Edison sees investment decision on EastMed gas pipeline by year-end

MILAN, March 20 (Reuters) – Electrical power group Edison (EDNn.MI) ideas to take the final financial investment final decision on a proposed pipeline to provide east Mediterranean gasoline to European markets by the finish of this yr, the Italian task developer explained to Reuters.

The EastMed-Poseidon pipeline, which would originally connect numerous gasoline fields offshore Israel to Italy and have an annual potential of 10 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gasoline, could be ready by 2027, Edison stated.

The undertaking, supported by Israel, Cyprus and Greece, would guarantee choice materials for Europe, which is weaning alone off of Russian piped gas. In addition, it would superior hook up Cyprus to its EU associates.

For these good reasons, the European Fee could be intrigued in partly funding the challenge, whose price is estimated at about 6 billion euros ($6.4 billion), Edison stated.

“We count on to choose the closing expenditure conclusion (FID) by the conclude of this calendar year. With a FID in 2023, the project would be realised by 2027,” Fabrizio Mattana, Edison’s govt vice president for gas assets, explained to Reuters in an job interview.

The European Union imported 155 bcm of purely natural gas from Russia in 2021, equating to about 45% of its fuel imports, according to the Global Energy Company.

Italy’s Edison, a subsidiary of France’s EDF (EDF.PA), and Greece’s DEPA Global Assignments are selling the project by their joint undertaking IGI Poseidon.

Last year, they obtained independent beneficial assessments more than the feasibility of the pipeline, which would be 2,000 kilometres (1,243 miles) extensive, with at the very least 800 km offshore.

The pipeline would be fed by Israeli gasoline fields by now in manufacturing and other folks under development. These are Leviathan, Tamar and also the Tanin & Karish fields that have added reserves to be developed, Mattana reported.

These fields make all over 28 bcm a 12 months, with about a third exported to Egypt and Jordan. Production is expected to climb in the coming years as present initiatives are expanded and any discoveries are introduced on line.

“If we get into account the regionally unconsumed share in addition the added amount predicted from the developments of these fields, we will have 20 bcm a lot more for each yr for at minimum 20 many years that could go by the pipeline,” Mattana said.

The potential of the pipeline could improve to 20 bcm in a next stage. It is also developed to transport hydrogen.

Edison aims to start the initial, non-binding, sector test to evaluate fuel producer and customer interest for gasoline transportation ability before long immediately after the summer time and, if the end result is favourable, will look for EU money.

“Europe should really have a strategic fascination in financing it… institutional traders, infrastructure resources, and transmission procedure operators from Israel, Greece, and Italy could also discover curiosity in financing the pipeline,” Mattana explained.

The EastMed-Poseidon pipeline is on the record of EU Tasks of Popular Interest printed in 2021. Having said that, it has also drawn criticism, and Greenpeace has asked Brussels not to fund it for equally environmental and geopolitical factors.

Edison is in search of specific aid from Rome.

“Our hope is that Italy will indication the intergovernmental settlement [inked by Israel, Cyprus and Greece in 2020] on the pipeline. We have asked for it, we are acquiring beneficial contacts with the authorities,” Mattana mentioned.

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Reporting by Francesca Landini Supplemental reporting by Marwa Rashad, Ari Rabinovitch and Michele Kambas
Enhancing by Nina Chestney and Mark Potter

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