EastMed pipeline

EastMed
Map of the proposed EastMed pipeline
Map of the proposed EastMed pipeline
Location
Country Greece
 Cyprus
 Israel
General directionEast–West
General information
TypeNatural gas
PartnersDEPA
Edison
Expected2025-2027[1][2]
Technical information
Length1,900 km (1,200 mi)
Maximum discharge10 billion cubic metres per annum (350×10^9 cu ft/a)

The Eastern Mediterranean pipeline or simply EastMed is a planned offshore/onshore natural gas pipeline, directly connecting East Mediterranean energy resources to mainland Greece via Cyprus and Crete.[3] The project, currently in design, will transport natural gas from the off-shore gas reserves in the Levantine Basin into Greece, and in conjunction with the Poseidon and IGB pipelines into Italy and other European regions.[4] The pipeline will have a length of approximately 1,900 km, reach depths of 3km, and have a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters per year.[5][6] Construction of the pipeline is expected to cost approximately €6 billion (US$6.86 billion).[7] The pipeline is being developed by IGI Poseidon S.A., a 50-50% joint venture between the Greek gas utility DEPA and the Italian gas utility Edison.[5]

On 2 January 2020, the EastMed Pipeline accord was signed in Athens by the leaders of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel.[5][6][8] On 19 July 2020, the Israeli government officially approved the accord, allowing the signatory countries to move forward with plans to complete the pipeline by 2025.[7]

However, following the withdrawal of support from the United States in January 2022, it is likely that the pipeline will be rerouted through Egypt to bypass Cyprus.[9]

  1. ^ "Israeli minister seeks to delay East Med gas forum citing climate concerns". Haaretz.com.
  2. ^ Hadjicostis, Menelaos (5 December 2017). "Israel expects gas to flow from east Mediterranean to Europe". apnews.com/.
  3. ^ "Eastmed-A direct link to new sources for Europe". IGI-Poseidon.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Eastmed pipeline". Edison.it. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "Leaders From Israel, Cyprus, Greece Sign EastMed Gas Pipe Deal". Bloomberg.com. 2 January 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Proto Thema". 2 January 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Israel approves pipeline deal to sell gas to Europe". Reuters. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Greece, Israel, Cyprus, move to build East Med gas pipeline". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  9. ^ "EastMed: A pipeline project that ran afoul of geopolitics and green policies". POLITICO. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.