The Interconnector Turkey - Greece - Italy (ITGI) is a new supply route of the European energy system with natural gas, sufficient to enhance security of supply, and also to increase competition in EU gas by diversifying its sources of supply.
Interconnector Turkey - Greece (ITG)
The Interconnector Greece - Turkey, as the first part of the wider interconnector pipeline between Turkey, Greece and Italy (ITGI), was the first step in opening the South European Gas Corridor through Turkey, from the producers of Caspian Sea and Middle East to Greece and other European countries.
The Interconnector Turkey - Greece, 300 km in length, starts at Karacabey (Turkey) and ends in Komotini (Greece). This pipeline is in operation since 2007 and its maximum annual capacity is 11.6 billion cubic meters.
Interconnector Greece - Italy (IGI)
The Interconnector Greece - Italy (IGI) consists of two parts: the on shore pipeline (Komotini – Thesprotian coast) and the underwater pipeline IGI POSEIDON (Thesprotian Coast - Otranto Italy). With a capacity that can reach 15 billion cubic meters of gas per year, it will have a total length of about 800 km.
The onshore section of a length of about 600 km will be constructed by DESFA, the Greek National Natural Gas System Operator.
The off shore section of the project, with a length of about 200 km, includes the underwater pipeline "Poseidon" and its supporting facilities (Metering Station and Compressor Units).
The company “IGI Poseidon S.A.” was incorporated in June 2008, with its mission being to design, construct and operate the underwater pipeline and relevant facilities. DEPA and the Italian company Edison, each hold a 50% stake in the company.
The Poseidon pipeline, as part of the Southern Corridor has been included by the European Union among the Projects of European Interest (highest level of priority recognized by the EU) and financed the project from the resources of the European Energy Programme for Recovery (E.E.P.R.) with the amount of 100 million euros.
