Italy to see 2 gas pipelines delayed to 2013-exec

MILAN, May 18 (Reuters) - Italy, heavily dependent on gas imports, is likely to see two major pipelines on stream in 2013, a senior energy executive said Monday, signaling a year of delay in supplies of about 16 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas.

Galsi, a pipeline which will bring via sea 8 bcm of Algerian gas to Italy a year, will be operating in 2013, Galsi consortium Chairman Roberto Poti told Reuters.

The start-up was originally planned for 2012 and the head of Algeria's gas giant Sonatrach which has a 41.6 percent stake in the Galsi project talked about a delay last year.

Poti said on Monday the original plan included general guidelines without specific details, whereas the pipeline's route has been changed a couple of times because of unexpected obstacles in the course of a sea bottom survey.

"Now we have defined the route ... Maybe some time ago (coming on stream) was expected in 2012, now it will be 2013," Poti said on the margins of an energy debate.

Poti said gas deliveries under Galsi project are fully covered by Sonatrach's supplies.

Other Galsi partners are Italian utilities Edison (EDN.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) with 20.8 percent, Enel (ENEI.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) with 15.6 percent and Hera (HRA.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) with 10.4 percent and Sardinia region, where the pipeline will pass on the way to mainland Italy, with 11.6 percent.

Poti said he expected an Italian authorisation process to be completed by the end of this year or early next year and the final investment decision to be taken in 2010.

Another pipeline, ITGI, which will bring 8 bcm of Caspian gas to Italy via Greece and Turkey, will be operating in 2012 or 2013, Poti said, extending an original 2012 start-up date.