MoD urges interconnector refusal over security fears

The Ministry of Defence said operations in and around Portsmouth Naval Base would be compromised

A proposed cross-Channel electricity cable should be blocked on national security grounds, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

A government decision on the £1.35bn Aquind interconnector between Lovedean, Hampshire, and Normandy, France, is due later this year.

In its latest submission to ministers, the MoD said the project would "clearly and unacceptably impede and compromise" operations in and around Portsmouth Naval Base.

Aquind said it rejected the MoD's "unsubstantiated" position.

In January 2024, the government said it had delayed a decision on the proposed electricity link after a Ministry of Defence request.

In its submission, the MoD said it could not elaborate on its concerns publicly for security reasons.

However, Capt Lee McLocklan, deputy commander of Portsmouth Naval Base, said the proposal would compromise the base, the surrounding area of the English Channel and associated military training.

James Muncie, in charge of Counter Economic Threats, said the effect would be a "clear risk to UK defence and national security".

Campaigners in Portsmouth have voiced fears over disruption from work to lay the cable

In a statement, Aquind said: "We are surprised by the MoD’s current objections, which lack substantiated justification."

The firm, which is part-owned by Russian-born former oil executive Victor Fedotov, says it was willing to coordinate with the MoD in order to overcome concerns about any impact on military training during installation and maintenance of the interconnector.

It also said the Aquind cable is being "treated differently" to other inconnectors such as IFA2 which also runs near to Portsmouth Harbour and it claims has not been subject to security concerns.

Furthermore Aquind claimed the MoD's postion is a reversal from 2020, when the ministry claimed in a submission to the Planning Inspectorate that the cable route posed no safeguarding concerns to HM Naval Base Portsmouth.

It said the interconnector was "critical for the UK’s energy security, capable of powering up to 5 million homes and significantly reducing CO2 emissions".

A government decision to refuse the scheme was overturned by the High Court in 2023.

Politicians and campaigners have voiced fears over security and disruption to Portsmouth residents from work to lay the cable.

Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt warned the link was a threat to "energy security", making the UK more reliant on France.

In the House of Commons, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan previously raised the issue of fibre-optic cables being laid alongside the link, which he said was a security concern.

Aquind said it scrapped plans for the fibre-optic link in 2023.

In a response to the firm's statements, the MoD said: “The re-determination process remains ongoing, and submissions have been provided by the Ministry of Defence as part of that work.”