Italy's Edison SpA plans to build a 400-megawatt, natural-gas-fired power plant in Greece, becoming the second Italian energy company this week to announce expansion plans in the country, which is opening its electricity market as it seeks to produce more power.

The partnership, called Thisvi, is expected to formally approve the decision soon, Hellenic Technodomiki SA said today in a filing with the Athens stock exchange. Thisvi comprises Edison, Hellenic Technodomiki, and Intracom SA and Viohalco SA.

``The plant is scheduled to begin operations at the end of 2009,'' Loukas Dimitriou, development director at Hellenic Energy & Development, said by phone today. Hellenic Energy & Development represents Hellenic Tech and Intracom's interests in the project.

Edison owns 65 percent stake of Thisvi while Hellenic Tech holds 20 percent and Intracom another 10 percent, Dimitriou said.

The group yesterday lost a Greek government tender to build a 430-megawatt power plant at partly guaranteed prices. A group led by Edison's Italian rival, Enel SpA, won that tender.

Power demand in Greece has risen, increasing the need for new investment. Greece expects energy companies to spend more than 4.5 billion euros ($6.2 billion) in the country by 2010 as it tries to become less dependent on oil. Greece is also opening its market to competitors to the state-controlled Public Power Corp., which now generates about 97 percent of the country's power.