DEPA, Gaz de France sign agreement
Gas company DEPA has signed a memorandum of cooperation with France’s Gaz de France in an effort to increase the country’s natural gas supplies. The agreement, signed on Friday, refers to the two companies working together in the fields of liquefied natural gas, energy infrastructure and international ties, DEPA said in a statement, without offering any further details. Sources said DEPA will aim at importing up to 1 billion cubic meters of gas per year from France for Greece’s domestic power needs rather than buying it on the spot market. The agreement is seen as helping to supply Greece with natural gas on a medium-term basis as the construction of the Turkey-Greece-Italy and South Stream pipelines progress. Meanwhile, Italy’s biggest utility, Enel, said yesterday it would participate in wind-power generation projects in Greece worth up to 1,400 megawatts as it aims to boost renewable energy output and expand in Greece. Enel said it has signed an agreement with Greece’s Damco Energy of the Copelouzos Group and International Constructional of the Samaras group to participate in a slew of wind projects by acquiring a 30 percent stake in the partnership. Enel will have the right to raise its stake to up to 80 percent, the company said, without disclosing the value of the deal.
