Greece and Italy agreed to study the feasibility of upgrading a planned undersea pipeline to send natural gas in both directions.
The agreement followed meetings between Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis, Italian Economic Development Minister Claudio Scajola and executives from Milan-based Edison SpA, according to a statement from Greece’s Development Ministry. Hatzidakis was in Milan to attend a conference.
“The project would increase the potential of the Interconnector Greece-Italy and strengthen the energy security of Greece,” Hatzidakis said in an interview. He added he expected the results of the study by the end of the year. Last year, Edison and Greek gas monopoly DEPA agreed to set up a company to build and operate the Neptune pipeline, bringing gas from the Caspian Sea region to Italy through Greece and Turkey.
The partners will now look at the technical aspects of having gas flow from Italy to Greece as well, according to the statement.
(KATHIMERINI, 21/07/2009)