“We are entering into a new phase for the economy. This project will offer a strong boost to move forward,” Environment and Energy Minister Panos Skourletis said commenting on the TAP natural gas pipeline, which will be inaugurated on Tuesday in Thessaloniki.

 Speaking to “Praktorio 104.9 FM” radio, Skourletis noted that the Greek part of the pipeline, with a length of around 500 km crossing Northern Greece, will employ around 8,000 people initially and stressed that more indirect job positions will be created following completion of the project (at the end of 2019, early 2020).

 He added that during a meeting later today in Thessaloniki with his Bulgarian counterpart, Temenuska Petkova, will focus on the issue of building a Greek-Bulgarian pipeline (IGB), directed vertically towards TAP and extending towards northern Europe. They will also discuss the course of third large energy project for Greece, the LNG floating terminal in Alexandroupoli”.