The 1 GW ElecLink interconnector through the Channel Tunnel between France and the United Kingdom has received safety approval from the UK Intergovernmental Commission (IGC). It started to transmit electricity between the French (RTE) and UK (National Grid) power grids in September 2021. Construction, which started in 2017, was completed in 2021. The 75 km-long twin cable project is expected to enter commercial operations by mid-2022. This is the first merchant line between the UK and France, which uses the service tunnel of the Folkestone-Calais Eurotunnel and was developed by Groupe Eurotunnel and STAR Capital Partners; in 2016, Groupe Eurotunnel took over the 51% stake held by its partner and continued the project alone. The project has secured a 25-year "partial exemption" from certain European regulations, such as ownership unbundling and third party access.