Abu Dhabi Greenlink Investment Faces Calls for UK Government Security Screening

A senior lawmaker has called for the UK government to formally screen an Abu Dhabi-backed investment in the Greenlink subsea interconnector, citing national security protocols. The demand for scrutiny follows the acquisition of a stake in the project by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s flagship renewable energy company. Critical Infrastructure Concerns Greenlink is a 500MW subsea power cable project spanning 190km between County Wexford in Ireland and Pembrokeshire in Wales. The project, valued at approximately €500 million (AED 1.98 billion), is classified as critical national infrastructure. It is designed to enhance energy security and facilitate the exchange of renewable power between the two nations. The call for a review centers on the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021. This legislation empowers the UK government to investigate, impose conditions on, or block foreign investments in 17 sensitive sectors, including energy and communications. Lawmakers are urging the Cabinet Office to determine if the ownership shift poses any long-term risks to the UK’s energy grid stability. Strategic Energy Investments Masdar acquired its stake in the Greenlink project from Partners Group…