The Greek section of a natural gas pipeline to Turkey is due to begin operating in May 2007, Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas said on Saturday.

The domestic stretch is budgeted at 82 million euros (108 million U.S. dollars), Sioufas told a celebration by the Public Gas Corporation to mark the 10th year of natural gas consumption in Greece.

"On operation of the pipeline, a major step will have been taken for implementation of a natural gas corridor between Greece, Turkey and Italy," the minister said.

The 250-million-euro (320 million dollars) project starts from the Turkish town of Karacabey to the northern Greek town of Komotini, carrying natural gas from Azerbaijan's massive Shakh Deniz gas field and possibly other suppliers as well.

Natural gas consumption in Greece totals 400 million cubic meters annually.

Greece and its western neighbor Italy are also planning to build a gas pipeline, the construction of which is expected to begin in 2008.

By building the pipelines, the European countries intend to reduce dependence on Russia for energy supplies.

Source: Xinhua