| Greece–Italy pipeline | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Greece, Italy |
| General direction | east–west |
| From | Komotini, Greece |
| Passes through | Ionian Sea |
| To | Otranto, Italy |
| General information | |
| Type | natural gas |
| Partners | DEPA, Edison S.p.A. |
| Operator | IGI Poseidon SA |
| Expected | 2012 |
| Technical information | |
| Length | 807 km (501 mi) |
| Maximum discharge | 8 billion cubic meters per year |
| Diameter | 42 in (1,067 mm) |
The Greece–Italy pipeline is a planned natural gas pipeline for transportation of natural gas from Caspian region to Italy. It is a part of the Interconnector Turkey–Greece–Italy.
Contents |
The feasibility study of the pipeline was conducted in 2003. The study was funded by the European Commission.[1]
The memorandum of understanding for the construction of pipeline was signed between Greek gas company DEPA and Italian energy company Edison S.p.A. on 28 April 2005. It followed by the intergovernmental agreement signed on 4 November 2005 in Rome by Italian Minister for Productive Activities Claudio Scajola and Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas. Also Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Hilmi Güler was present at the ceremony. On 31 January 2007, Italy's Minister of Economic Development Pierluigi Bersani, and Greek minister Dimitris Sioufas granted exclusive usage rights of the pipeline to Edison S.p.A. and DEPA for 25 years.[2] This was approved by the European Commission in May 2007.[3] On 26 July 2007, the additional protocol on construction was signed in Rome. On 11 June 2008, the project company IGI Poseidon SA was incorporated in Italy.[4]
In February 2011, the engineering consultancy Penspen was awarded the basic engineering design contract for the onshore section of the pipeline from Komotini in to Igoumenitsa, Thesprotia.[5][6]
The length of Greece–Italy pipeline will be more than 807 kilometres (501 mi), of which 590 kilometres (370 mi) will be onshore pipeline in Greece and more than 217 kilometres (135 mi) will be laid on the seabed of Ionian Sea. The pipeline will be connected to the Turkey–Greece pipeline outside Komotini and will run to Igoumenitsa, Thesprotia. The offshore section (also known as Poseidon pipeline) will be built between Igoumenitsa and Otranto in Apulia region.[7]
The offshore section will cost €500 million and the Greek section will cost €600 million. The capacity of pipeline is to be 8 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually.[4] 80% of the transmission capacity will be reserved to Edison SpA, while 20% is reserved to DEPA.[3]
Greek gas company DEPA is responsible for the construction of Greek section. The offshore section will be constructed by IGI Poseidon SA, a joint company of DEPA and Italian Edison S.p.A.[4]