Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.23
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Greek section of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, will be filled with gas within this year, Trend reports citing Luca Schieppati, TAP managing director.
He noted that TAP plays a fundamental role for Italy from an economic, strategic and geopolitical point of view, reads a message from TAP AG consortium.
Around 3.8 kilometers of the planned 8.2 kilometers of the pipeline’s Italian section have already been built, added the managing director.
“TAP's overall progress is around 90 percent. The Greek section will be filled with gas already within the year. The supplies will begin in 2020,” Schieppati added.
As for the market test, Lisa Givert, TAP Head of Communications, told Trend that the consortium is pleased with the interest for capacity expressed in the non-binding phase of the market test.
“After publishing a Demand Assessment Report by 21 October 2019, TAP intends to proceed with the subsequent phases of the market test, in line with the Guidelines for the 2019 Market Test of Trans Adriatic Pipeline, approved by the National Regulatory Authorities of Greece, Italy and Albania,” she said.
TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.
Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network.
The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016.
Once built, TAP will offer a direct and cost-effective transportation route opening up the vital Southern Gas Corridor, a 3,500-kilometer long gas value chain stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe.
TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagás (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
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