A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the BEH EAD (Bulgaria), DEPA (Greece) and Edison (Italy) for the construction of the Bulgaria-Greece gas interconnection. This Memorandum is a practical step towards the execution of the Bulgaria-Greece Gas Interconnection project (Komoteini Dimitrovgrad Stara Zagora, 160 km) for the supply of 1 bcm/year of Azeri gas to Bulgaria through the Turkey Greece Italy pipeline (ITGI). The pipeline will have a capacity between 3 and 5 bcm/year and is expected to be operational by 2013. The project envisions connecting the Bulgarian gas transmission network with the ITGI thus ensuring diversification of natural gas supply for the national and regional gas market. This project allows Bulgaria to take concrete measures in securing an alternative route for natural gas import in the short term and will provide an opportunity to overcome the consequences affecting the security of supply with respect to a potential new crisis arising from Russia - Ukraine disputes. The construction of the interconnection will be realized via a joint stock company created in March 2010 between BEH EAD and IGI Poseidon (50% DEPA and 50% Edison). This company will construct, own and exploit the infrastructure. The project has been included in the European Economy Recovery Plan and receives grant support amounting to 45m. BEH EAD also signed a deal with Greece's gas grid operator DESFA to use the capacity of the Revithoussa LNG terminal near Athens and import 1bcm/year of gas.