Azernews.Az

Speaking at Platts 5th annual European Gas Supply Infrastructure Conference in Brussels on Monday, Konstantinos Karayannakos, Division Head, International Projects DEPA, the Greek Public Gas Corporation, underlined the ITGI system is ready to go now and will get Azeri gas to Europe in the shortest possible time, making a vital contribution to the security of supply.

"The ITGI system ensures that the Southern Corridor opens as soon as possible since it is overall the most advanced project. IGB (Interconnector Greece Bulgaria) may start operation by 2013 and IGI (Interconnector Greece Italy) by 2017. ITGI is the only pipeline that aligns with the schedule of full field development of Shah Deniz II," Karayannakos said.

"ITGI’s innovative approach to pipeline planning can deliver not only diversified gas supplies to Europe the soonest it can also deliver an infrastructure legacy that will forever contribute to the energy security of Europe," he continued.

Karayannakos told the audience of key industry figures in the Marriott Brussels, Belgium about the technical maturity of the ITGI project.

"The ITGI system is the most technically mature project in the Southern Gas Corridor. Because the ITGI system can be scaled up to a capacity of 24 bcm as additional gas becomes available, it is the ideal first step in a phased approach to opening the Southern Gas Corridor. Additionally unlike other proposed pipeline projects, all the environmental licenses have already been issued for ITGI," Karayannakos said.