The transmission line is provisionally planned to run between the coastal town of Marsa Ben Mehidi, close to Algeria's border with Morocco, and the southern Spanish city of Almeira, and will transport power generated as part of Algeria's landmark 2,000-MW private power project. This calls for the construction of a 1,200-MW plant at Arzew, generating power for export, and an 800-MW plant in Skikda for domestic use. Five international developers - Endesaof Spain, Enelpowerof Italy, SNC Lavalinof Canada, Electricite de Franceand the US' AES Corporation - have submitted technical bids for the build-own-operate (BOO) project.

AEC, the client for the 2,000-MW project, will call for commercial proposals once Red Electrica and Sonelgaz have given their approval to the underwater cable.