The East Med pipeline project which will transfer natural gas from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe through Greece was discussed in a trilateral meeting between the energy ministers of Greece, Israel and Cyprus on Wednesday in Athens.
Energy Minister Panos Skourletis, Israel’s Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources, Yuval Steinitz, and Cyprus’ Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis agreed on the following steps to promote the project that includes the presentation of the economic and technical study for the underwater gas pipeline, while a new meeting is planned for December in Jerusalem between heads of state.
The three ministers also focused on the electrical interconnection of Israel, Cyprus and Greece through Crete, on which the discussed linking Crete with continental Greece – a project included in the planning of grid operator ADMIE.
A third issue was the new LNG station in Alexandroupolis.
Skourletis said cooperation between the three countries creates conditions for stability in the wider region and noted that Greece could become European Union’s entry point for natural gas.
The Israeli minister said cooperation between the three countries on energy is better than ever and that the electrical connection will improve the security of supply. He also said the underwater pipeline is under consideration and that talks have already been held with the EU.
“Our aim is to make the eastern Mediterranean necessary for the EU and the EU necessary for the Mediterranean,” said Lakkotrypis, adding that discussions do not only concern the volume of natural gas that has been discovered but also the prospects opening in the future with the new searches for hydrocarbons.
