Italy, Greece, Turkey sign gas pipeline deal
Italy, Turkey, and Greece have signed an agreement to build a pipeline to bring natural gas from the Caspian and the Middle East to European markets, Italy's Edison gas company said Thursday according to RIA Novosti.
"The gas pipeline will go into operation in 2012. It will help diversify gas supply sources, while promoting competition," a company spokesman said, adding that it is of strategic importance.
The agreement comes after months of negotiations on shipping natural gas from the Caucasus to Western Europe through Turkey and Greece.
The Turkish-Greek section is expected to begin operating in late August, while construction on the Greek-Italian link, owned by Italy's Edison and Greece's DEPA, should begin next year.