Sark undersea electricity cable: Plea for talks to restart

Guernsey is currently able to import up to 80% of its electricity needs via undersea cables

Sark businesses are pleading for talks to restart over proposals to build an undersea electricity cable to Guernsey.

Negotiations between Sark Electricity, Chief Pleas and Guernsey's government, collapsed last week.

Sark's Chamber of Commerce, which represents more than 25 businesses, is lobbying Sark and Guernsey politicians on the issue.

Group president Alan Jackson said with Sark's high electricity price it was an "extremely important issue".

The price of electricity in Sark is 58p per unit compared to 12p per unit in Guernsey - although the annual standing charge is cheaper - £24 compared to £71.90.

Cables between Guernsey and Jersey and on to France allow the islands to import electricity from mainland Europe, which is mostly nuclear and renewable power, as an alternative to generating power on-island by burning fossil fuels.

Electricity prices per unit are nearly five times higher in Sark than in Guernsey

In a statement the chamber said: "It is clear that there is frustration on both sides. Yet, it is also clear that there is an agreement by the main parties that this is an achievable ambition."

Mr Jackson said: "Economically at the moment Sark is stagnating and I'm probably being slightly generous in that.

"Given the reduced economic activity we're seeing at the moment I wouldn't be surprised if the cost of core services like electricity increased."

He said: "A strong and stable Sark is in Guernsey's interests... I hope they will come back to the table... and get this deal done."

The original plan was for the cable to be funded by a loan, lasting 20-25 years, from Guernsey States.

The chamber said Sark Electricity had committed to talks, but the group was waiting to hear from the two islands' governments.

In a statement, Chief Pleas said it was "committed to delivering sustainable, reasonably priced electricity through a cable link as previously proposed, and are therefore exploring the other options".

It said: "We hope to be able to provide further details in due course but confirm that this project remains very much active, is progressing and a priority objective."