The energy ministries of Greece and Italy on Monday issued a joint statement regarding the pipeline that will be selected to carry Azeri natural gas to Europe.
The joint statement was made in response to reports, according to which, the ITGI (Interconnector Turkey-Greece-Italy) pipeline has been excluded as an alternative option in the implementation of the so-called Southern Gas Corridor. The ITGI is a joint venture between Italy’s Edison and the Greek provider DE.PA.
In response to recent media reports, both energy ministries emphasized that the issue is still open for them and reaffirmed their governments’ support for the ITGI project as the most suitable for the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor.
They underlined that the ITGI is the most advanced and mature project among the candidates.
The joint statement concludes that negotiations should continue to study all alternative solutions for the opening of the Southern Corridor, adding that the ITGI pipeline contribution could be substantive.
Sources told AMNA that the BP-led consortium developing the Shah Deniz gas field offshore close to Azerbaijan decided to eliminate the ITGI pipeline option after considering the prices offered by Edison and the risk associated with Greece. The same sources did not rule out changes in the ITGI shareholder composition and cooperation with the TAP (Turkey-Greece-Albania-Italy) pipeline.
(Source: AMNA)
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