Romanian transmission system operator Transelectrica and Georgian State Electrosystem have begun the technical-development phase of a proposed 1,300 MW electricity interconnector across the Black Sea.
The planned link would run between Constanța in Romania and Anaklia in Georgia. It is expected to extend for approximately 1,155 kilometres, including about 1,115 kilometres of submarine cable and 40 kilometres of onshore transmission infrastructure.
A memorandum between the two system operators moves the project from political cooperation towards engineering preparation. The next phase will need to determine the cable technology, seabed route, landing points, converter-station design, system-stability requirements and integration with the Romanian and Georgian transmission networks.
The project received Project of Mutual Interest status from the European Union in 2026, reflecting its potential role in linking the South Caucasus with the European electricity market. The interconnector is intended to support renewable-energy trade, diversify supply routes and create an electricity corridor that bypasses traditional land-based transit systems.
Its engineering complexity remains considerable. At more than 1,100 kilometres offshore, the cable would be among the world’s longest submarine electricity links. Black Sea depth, seabed conditions, repair logistics and converter availability will materially influence capital costs and construction risk.
The commercial model is equally important. A 1,300 MW link requires dependable generation or contracted supply on the eastern side, sufficient demand and price spreads in Europe, and a regulated framework capable of supporting debt service over several decades. Renewable generation in Georgia and the wider Caucasus could provide the energy base, but lenders will require clarity on offtake, congestion revenues and availability obligations.
Romania would gain another strategic role in European energy infrastructure. Constanța is already important for Black Sea transport, gas and electricity development, while Transelectrica is working on domestic reinforcement and cross-border integration with neighbouring markets.
The memorandum starts the most consequential stage of the project. Political support established the corridor’s strategic rationale; detailed engineering must now establish whether the cable can be technically reliable, commercially financeable and resilient enough to justify its scale.
