BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 17. Transforming the
metering station in Bilisht (ACS02), Albania, into a compressor
station is a potential project that could be implemented only if
the results of a Market Test trigger a new step of expansion up to
doubling of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline’s (TAP) capacity, TAP AG
consortium told Trend.
"TAP's long-term capacity, which currently stands at approximately
10 billion cubic meters per year (bcm/a), can be expanded in steps
to reach around 20 bcm/a through a Market Test - a regulated
procedure conducted every two years to assess market demand for
expanding the pipeline's long-term capacity. If a new expansion
step, up to doubling of TAP's capacity, is confirmed as a result of
a Market Test, the compression capacity in Albania will need to be
increased. In this context, the ACS02 facility in Bilisht, Albania,
which currently operates as a metering station, would have to be
upgraded to function as a compressor station," the consortium
explained.
TAP AG noted that currently, two Market Tests are ongoing: the
binding phase of the 2023 Market Test and the non-binding phase of
the 2025 Market Test.
"Any additional level of expansion would be triggered only if the
market expresses sufficient long-term capacity demand during these
processes. The aggregated binding capacity requests potentially
received during the Market Tests must pass an Economic Viability
Test (EVT) before an investment decision is made. If a new
expansion step, up to doubling of TAP's capacity, is confirmed as a
result of a positive Market Test, TAP's Environmental and Social
Impact Assessment (ESIA) would need to be amended. As part of the
ESIA amendment process, local residents and interested stakeholders
have been invited to participate in a public hearing on 5 December
in the Devolli Municipality area, which will provide information on
the potential project and offer an opportunity to ask questions and
provide feedback. The public hearing is organised in cooperation
with the Devolli Municipality, in line with Albanian legislation
and TAP's commitment to transparent stakeholder engagement.
Transforming the metering station in Bilisht (ACS02), Albania, into
a compressor station is a potential project that could be
implemented only if the results of a Market Test - a regulated
procedure conducted every two years to assess market demand for
expanding the pipeline's long-term capacity - trigger a new step of
expansion up to doubling of TAP's capacity. TAP has undertaken the
environmental assessment," said the consortium.
TAP AG noted that if this project is taken forward, the proposed
compressor station ACS02 would be required to raise gas pressure
within the existing pipeline system and allow an increase in annual
throughput of natural gas from the current 10 bcm/a to up to 20
bcm/a.
"The existing metering station would be converted from its current
configuration to a compressor station through the installation of
up to four 35 MW electric-driven compressors, together with
associated air coolers, providing a total installed power of up to
140 MWe.
The current environmental approvals in Albania already foresaw
ACS02 to be transformed to compressor station with gas turbine
driven compressors. The updated proposal for the expanded capacity
now considers replacing the solution of gas turbines with fully
electrified units. This change would require installing a
high-voltage electrical substation and connecting to Albania's
national relevant power grid. The electrified station would avoid
CO2 emissions compared to the original design and ensure alignment
with energy transition objectives and climate goals," said the
consortium.
On December 31, 2020 TAP started transporting first gas. TAP’s
annual capacity is 10 billion cubic meters with the possibility of
expansion to 20 billion cubic meters.
The increase of TAP supplies by an additional 1.2 billion cubic meters by 2026 was approved in January 2024. Work is currently underway to organize gas supplies to Albania via TAP starting in 2026.