On February
25, 2016, in Rome Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee,
Marc Benayoun, Chief Executive Officer of Edison SpA and Theodoros Kitsakos, Chief
Executive Officer of DEPA SA, signed the "Memorandum of Understanding in
relation to gas supplies from Russia across the Black sea through third
countries to Greece and from Greece to Italy” to develop a gas pipeline project
between Greece and Italy, enabling the realization of a southern route for the
Russian gas supply to Europe.
The signing
ceremony followed a meeting between Alexey Miller and Federica Guidi, Minister
of Economic Development of Italy which took place in Rome today. The ceremony
was attended by George Tsipras, Secretary General International Economic
Relations of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Hellenic Republic.
The
agreement outlines the parties’ interest in a route for natural gas supplies
from Russia - across the Black Sea and through third countries - to Greece and
from Greece to Italy. For this purpose the parties intend to use to the maximum
possible extent the works already performed by Edison and Depa in relation to
the ITGI Poseidon project.
"The
development of intra-European gas transmission capacities is an important
element in securing reliable supplies of gas, including Russian gas, to
consumers across Europe,” said Alexey Miller.
"The
possible development of this new supply corridor, to be pursued in full
accordance with EU legislations and regulations, will foster Italian security
of supply and its role as major southern European gas hub, in line with the
National Energy Strategy objectives”, Marc Benayoun noted on the occasion of
signing.
"The
revival of the ITGI-Poseidon project strengthens Europe’s energy security with
an additional supply corridor and further enhances Greece’s role as a major
gateway for gas from diversified sources and routes,” said Theodoros Kitsakos.
The ITGI gas
pipeline was first proposed by DEPA and Edison in early 2000’s, as a route to
bring Caspian gas to Italy. The project was abandoned in 2012 following
selection of TAP by the Shah Deniz II consortium. The ITGI segment now to be
developed by the DEPA/Edison and the Gazprom group will involve the Adriatic
underwater segment (217 km) and the land based one in Western Greece (250 km).
The pipeline will eventually link to the TESLA pipeline via FYROM and Serbia.