Inauguration of the Skiathos-Evia electrical interconnection

The official inauguration of the Skiathos-Evia electrical interconnection was carried out by IPTO on Monday, August 29, at the state-of-the-art Skiathos High Voltage Substation built as part of the energy project. 

The new infrastructure was inaugurated by the General Secretary for Energy and Mineral Raw Materials, Mrs. Alexandra Sdoukou and the Chairman and CEO of IPTO, Mr. Manos Manousakis. The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Christos Triantopoulos, the Mayor of Skiathos, Mr. Theodoros Tzoumas, the CEO of HEDNO, Mr. Anastasios Manos, as well as representatives of local authorities and agencies. 

The Skiathos-Evia electrical interconnection has been fully operational since July 11, already successfully covering the increased demand of this year’s tourist season for Skiathos and the northern Sporades, as a whole. It is a project of great technical complexity, which includes a 29 km submarine cable, a 30 km overhead Transmission Line on the territory of Evia, a new closed type Substation (GIS) in Skiathos and the upgrade of the existing High Voltage Substation in Mantoudi. The interconnection was contracted in May 2020 and despite the adversities caused by the pandemic crisis, it was electrified according to the schedule.

In the greeting she addressed during the inauguration, the General Secretary for Energy and Mineral Raw Materials, Mrs. Alexandra Sdoukou, praised the Operator’s commitment to the implementation of the island interconnections program. “The electrical interconnection of Skiathos with Evia now offers uninterrupted energy supply for all the northern Sporades. It is a project that will immediately upgrade the daily life of the residents, as well as the tourist offering of the area, creating new development prospects. Congratulations to IPTO for the rapid and technically sound implementation of the island interconnections program, which are critical infrastructures for the country’s transition to clean energy.”

The Chairman and CEO of IPTO, Mr. Manos Manousakis thanked all the contributors to the project as well as the local authorities for their kind cooperation with the Operator. “We are particularly satisfied as our commitment to electrify the Skiathos-Evia connection in the summer of 2022 has been fulfilled. We achieved this demanding goal thanks to the commitment of our executives and partners and the support of the local community that “embraced” the project from day one. Now, Skiathos and the northern Sporades are energy secure and enjoy reliable and quality electricity supply from the mainland. In parallel with the completion of this important milestone for the National Transmission System, IPTO continues its investment program, amounting to EUR 5 billion, through which it contributes to the energy upgrade of the country by 2030”.

The Mayor of Skiathos, Mr. Theodoros Tzoumas mentioned the importance of the project for the energy security of Skiathos and took the opportunity to thank the Operator for its financial support to the restoration designs on the historical building of the island “Bourtzi”. “The operation of the Skiathos electrical interconnection project marks a new era and lays the foundations for achieving energy autonomy and sufficiency in the northern Sporades, upgrading the quality of life of the residents and putting the place onto a growth path. In addition, I would like to thank IPTO, which, at the request of the Municipality, provided a sponsorship for the restoration design for the emblematic building in Bourtzi, amounting to EUR 2.1 million, which was approved by the Ministry of Culture and will be implemented by the Region of Thessaly with NSRF resources”.