Two tantalising tender processes have been launched for contracts worth $1.3 billion linked to the 2000-kilometre East Mediterranean (EastMed) pipeline that will carry gas from Israel, Cyprus and Egypt to the European Union.

The winning bidders will engineer, procure, construct, install and pre-commission both EastMed’s onshore pipeline in Greece plus its above ground (AG) facilities in Cyprus, Crete and mainland Greece.

Pre-qualification documents must be submitted this month so that the project proponents — the IGI-Poseidon joint venture of Italy’s Edison and Depa of Greece — can issue bid documents and ultimately take a final investment decision this year, targeting pipeline start-up in 2027.