Italian contractor Saipem has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with DESFA, the national natural gas system operator in Greece, for cooperation on onshore and offshore gas projects within the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean regions.

“The companies will identify opportunities to create value for customers by combining Saipem’s expertise in engineering, procurement, construction and installation of onshore and offshore gas projects, which contribute a large part of the company’s diversified backlog and order intake, with DESFA’s competencies in the development and management of natural gas transmission systems,” Saipem said in a statement.

Saipem said it would cooperate with DESFA on projects related to subsea field developments, pipeline systems and transport and export infrastructures, offshore fixed facilities, receiving terminals, maritime works, LNG and FLNG plant and onshore facilities, jointly deploying resources to render services including conceptual design/feasibility studies, basic design, FEED, project management, asset integrity and maintenance, health and safety, logistics and planning, environmental engineering and permitting.