Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-24

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greece and Italy sign protocol on construction of underwater natural gas pipeline

[01] Greece and Italy sign protocol on construction of underwater natural gas pipeline

The signing of the protocol took place on the sidelines of the conference of ministers and representatives of chambers of commerce from the countries of southeastern Europe's energy community, which was attended by the European Union's Energy Commissioner Andries Pilpags.

Sioufas termed the signing a victory in the effort "for the two countries to jointly bring the future closer and for us to create new prospects of development for our peoples, our countries and the region."

The minister mentioned that the DEPA and Edison enterprises cooperated closely over the past three years, while on May 2 the two governments decided to provide their political support for the implementation of the project, which has been characterised as one of top priority by the European Commission.

"Combined with the Greek-Turkish natural gas pipeline, whose commencement of work inauguration will be held at the Greek-Turkish border on July 3 by Prime Ministers Costas Karamanlis and Tayyip Erdogan, a natural gas ring is being created through which the countries of the Caspian region which produce natural gas will be linked to the major consumption centres of Western Europe," Sioufas said.

Referring to certain technical characterisitics of the project, the development minister said the transfer of gas to the underwater pipeline will begin from the city of Komotini, northern Greece, and go as far as Nea Mesimvria through the existing Greek network and from there, through the pipeline which shall have a length of 212 kilometres and a diametre of 32 inches, it will reach Otranto.

The project will be carried out by the Poseidon company, in which DEPA and Edison will have an equal share of participation.

Sioufas said that a few days ago the Development Ministry's Secretary General Nikos Stefanou and the Italian Productive Activities Ministry's energy general director Sergio Garriba tabled a request to the European Commission on the 50 percent joint funding of the project's environmental and economic study.

The development minister thanked and congratulated the administrations of the two companies and also thanked Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis and his associates, while stressing the significance of the presence of the European Commission's director in Greece George Markopouliotis at the signing of the protocol.

Scaiola said the agreement enables the linking of Greece and Italy with a gas pipeline as well. He added that Greece will become a centre for the transfer of energy and underlined the speed with which the agreement was signed and the will and cooperation existing between the two sides.

The Italian minister also stressed the need for energy and the fact that 10 percent of Italy's needs will be met by the pipeline since the neighbouring country intends to gradually diminish its energy dependence on oil.

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