The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved €490 million in financing for the IPTO North East Aegean Interconnection project, which will connect the islands of Lemnos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, and Skyros to Greece’s mainland grid, ending their electrical isolation and replacing diesel power with cleaner, more reliable electricity.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved €490 million in financing for a major interconnection project that will finally end the electrical isolation of several Greek islands in the Northeast Aegean Sea.

The IPTO North East Aegean Interconnection project will integrate the islands of Lemnos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, and Skyros into Greece’s mainland transmission grid. Connections will run through Nea Santa in Thrace (north) and Aliveri on Evia (east), with an additional link to the Dodecanese grid via Mastichari on Kos (south).

The system relies primarily on 150 kV AC submarine cables and 150 kV gas-insulated substations (GIS).

Financing was approved on December 12, 2025.

According to the EIB, the project will replace outdated local diesel and heavy fuel oil power stations with a more efficient, reliable, and cleaner electricity supply from the mainland grid. Benefits include improved security of supply, greater capacity for renewable energy sources, and boosted economic development—particularly in tourism.

This initiative supports Greece’s and the EU’s broader goals of phasing out fossil fuels on non-interconnected islands and accelerating the transition to sustainable energy.