Greece’s natural gas network will be expanded to cover 18 provincial cities in northern and central regions following a European Commission decision reached to secure EU cohesion policy funds for the expansion plan through the Multiannual Financial Framework, running from 2014 to 2020.

The plan’s funding framework inclusion will enable subsidies of 50 percent for the project, whose total budget is estimated at over 172 million euros.

Driven by the now-certain prospect of EU subsidies for the expansion plan, gas distributor DEDA, a subsidiary of gas utility DEPA responsible for the country’s natural gas networks – except the wider Athens area – is believed to be finalizing the details of  related tenders expected to be announced in January.

According to the plan, the country’s gas network will be expanded in the East Macedonia-Thrace, Central Macedonia and central Greece regions.

The provincial cities listed in the gas network expansion plan are: Thebes, Amfissa, Lamia, Karpenisi, Livadia, Halkida, Alexandria, Giannitsa, Veria, Katerini, Kilkis, Serres, Komotini, Alexandroupoli, Drama, Kavala, Xanthi and Orestiada.