Offshore staff

BAKU, Azerbaijan – The proposed ITGI pipeline system will be the quickest method of taking gas from Azerbaijan to European markets.

So said Harry Sachinis, chairman and CEO of DEPA, the Public Gas Corp. of Greece, speaking at last week’s Gas Infrastructure World conference in Baku.

"We’re looking forward to the signing of the transit agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkey,” he said. “This agreement will open the Southern Corridor by immediately providing the opportunity for a direct supply agreement which will allow the transit of gas from Azerbaijan to Greece, Bulgaria, and beyond as early as 2013/2014 through IGB; and by transiting gas from Shah Deniz II through ITGI as soon as it’s available in 2017/2018.”

Sachinis insisted that ITGI was the most advanced of the various projects to transport gas from the Shah Deniz II development in the Caspian Sea.

“ITGI’s 10 bcma capacity closely matches the volumes that will be available from Shah Deniz II, enabling Azeri gas to be delivered to European markets as soon as it becomes available. Also, we have successfully concluded an eight-month detailed marine survey for IGI Poseidon, the offshore section of the ITGI pipeline connecting the Greek and Italian gas transportation systems.

“The ITGI pipeline has secured third party access exemption for 8 bcma,” he added, “confirmed by the EU. Unlike other proposed pipeline projects, all the environmental licenses have already been issued for ITGI.”

The ITGI pipeline system includes the IGI (Interconnector Greece-Italy), featuring IGI Poseidon, a 200-km (124-mi) offshore pipeline across the Ionian Sea.

09/28/2011