New Three-Year Mandate – Black Sea Submarine Cable (BSSC) Project

A new three-year mandate has been awarded by CESI SpA in relation to the Black Sea Submarine Cable Project (IBRD/ESPIRE/CS/DS/01-2025), implemented under the World Bank-funded programme Enhancing Energy Security through Power Interconnection and Renewable Energy. This next phase concerns the Design, Procurement and Supervision of Seabed Surveys, a foundational stage in the development of cross-border electricity interconnection infrastructure in the Black Sea region.

Strategic Context

The BSSC Project forms part of a broader regional effort to strengthen energy resilience, diversify supply pathways and enable greater integration of renewable generation. Submarine interconnection infrastructure of this scale requires a carefully sequenced legal and technical process. Seabed surveys are not merely preparatory works; they are determinative for route selection, environmental impact scoping, permitting feasibility and ultimately project bankability.

The legal and regulatory architecture governing such surveys is inherently multi-layered. It engages:

• National permitting regimes within territorial waters;

• International law principles applicable to Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs);

• Environmental and maritime regulatory frameworks;

• Public procurement rules applicable to World Bank-financed contracts.

Effective coordination at this stage directly mitigates downstream risks relating to delays, re-routing, environmental objections and procurement challenges.

Scope of Work

The seabed surveys will be executed in two distinct geographic phases:

• Phase I – Territorial waters and EEZs of Georgia and Romania

• Phase II – EEZs of Bulgaria and Turkey

This phased structure reflects both technical sequencing and jurisdictional complexity. Each maritime zone engages distinct regulatory approvals, environmental assessment standards and inter-agency coordination requirements.

Legal Coordination and Procurement Oversight

Thomas Lamnidis will act as International Legal Expert, coordinating the cross-jurisdictional permitting framework and supporting CESI in overseeing procurement procedures for ESIA-related contracts.

The mandate includes:

• Mapping and harmonising permitting pathways across four coastal states;

• Structuring applications in alignment with national maritime, environmental and energy legislation;

• Ensuring compliance with World Bank procurement and environmental standards;

• Supporting risk allocation and documentation strategy for survey contractors.

Given the multilateral financing structure, procurement governance and documentation integrity are central to project continuity. Early-stage legal structuring is therefore essential to preserve eligibility, manage stakeholder risk and maintain timetable discipline.

Broader Implications

Cross-border electricity interconnection projects in the Black Sea basin sit at the intersection of energy transition policy, infrastructure finance and geopolitical coordination. The successful execution of seabed surveys will directly influence route optimisation, environmental clearance strategy and financing certainty.