Energy: Sicily Region-Terna agreement to construct the electricity link between Italy and Tunisia

Today at Palazzo d'Orléans in Palermo, the President of the Sicily Region, Renato Schifani, and Terna's CEO and General Manager, Giuseppina Di Foggia, signed a memorandum of understanding for the implementation of activities for the construction of Elmed, the electricity interconnection between Italy and Tunisia authorised last May by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.

The agreement aims to strengthen the synergy between the Regional government and Terna in the preparations leading up to the start of works, and to facilitate all activities inherent to the construction and operation of the endeavour.

The regional administration will, within its areas of responsibility, support the national grid operator in finalising the essential procedures ahead of the executive design of the works and the building of infrastructure. Terna has committed to ensuring continuous alignment on the programmed activities in order to minimise the impact that worksites will have on local communities.

Futhermore, the Sicily Region and Terna have shared an agreement for the implementation of localised and environmental renovation works of collective interest. Specifically, Terna will contribute 1 million euros for environmental offset works, which the Region will supplement with another 4 million euros from the Development and Cohesion Fund: a total of 5 million euros will be used for the partial reconstruction, using the original pieces (known as "anastylosis"), of the south columns of Temple 'G' in the Selinunte Archaeological Park. The site is the largest in the Greek West after the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Akragas. The temple reached an imposing 30 metres in height, with columns of over 16 metres. Construction began around 530 BC, but still had not been completed in 409 BC, the year of the city of Selinunte's destruction by the Carthaginians.

The company will make further cash contributions to the two municipalities concerned: 600,000 euros to Castelvetrano and 2 million euros to Partanna.

"The electricity connection between Italy and Tunisia," said President Schifani, "is a strategic project for Italy and is part of the ongoing energy transition process. The positive repercussions of its construction will be felt by the entire "country system", as Elmed was indeed included in the national government's Mattei Plan. In this context, Sicily is key both because of its geographical position in the centre of the Mediterranean and because it can function as an energy hub, thus targeting one of the most strategic sectors for further economic development. Terna, whom I thank, has also accepted my request to contribute financially to offset the work in the area. With the Region's allocation of additional resources through the cohesion agreement, we will see a substantial operation in the area with the reconstruction of the columns of the 'G' temple of Selinunte."

Giuseppina Di Foggia commented, "With more than 3 billion euros of investment earmarked over the next five years for the development of technologically advanced and sustainable electricity grids, Sicily will benefit from works that will significantly aid the country's energy transition and decarbonisation path. Among these projects, the Italy-Tunisia interconnection will increase the efficiency of our country's electricity system and help diversify supply sources by connecting Europe to North Africa. Today's agreement, as well as being an important step forward in the project's advancement, confirms Terna's commitment to building strategic infrastructure through close cooperation with local institutions and the territories involved."

From the left: Renato Schifani, President of the Sicily Region, and Giuseppina Di Foggia, Terna's CEO and General Manager.