A pipeline running through the southern corridor could move gas within two years, according to Greece’s Energy Minister, who trumpeted Greece’s role in the project.

There has been heated competition to run a successful pipeline through the southern corridor, the so-called link between the Middle East and Europe.

The Interconnector Turkey-Greece-Italy (ITGI) pipeline, which links gas supplies through the three countries from the Middle East and has backing from the European Commission, was initially planned to go online from 2015.

George Papaconstantinou, the Greek Energy Minister claimed that the project, which also links Bulgaria with Greece, could operate much earlier than expected.

On an official visit to Azerbaijan, Mr Papaconstantinou said: “ITGI will be ready to ensure the start of Azeri gas export through Greece to Bulgaria and other Southeastern European countries as early as 2013, and as of 2017, when export from Shah Deniz 2 begins, to Italy and beyond.”