Greece launched an international tender for a study on the feasibility of a proposed pipeline to carry gas from Israel and Cyprus in an effort to reduce dependence on Russian supplies.

Greece's court of auditors has blocked the sale of 28 state assets to two Athens-based companies meaning the country will miss its 1.3 billion euro target for selloffs in 2013.

The government intends to negotiate a gradual decrease in the Special Consumption Tax on natural gas with its creditors, according to deputy minister for Energy Asimakis Papageorgiou, with the aim being to reach an agreement by the end of the year.