Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 15
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
TAP project, envisaging the transportation of gas from the second stage of development of Azerbaijani gas condensate Shah Deniz field to the EU countries, is one of the important projects.
The European Investment Bank is considering allocating 2 billion euro for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project. TAP has been included in the European Commission's list of 33 priority energy security Projects of Common Interest.
The bank recalls that the European Commission in its positive decision to grant exemption to the pipeline from third party access highlighted the "overall positive impact for the EU of this investment as it is responding directly to the Security of Supply objective of diversification of gas sources, routes and counterparties".
The bank is currently considering the possibility of allocating a loan and it has not been approved by the Board of Directors of the bank.
Despite this decision is a little behindhand but it is considered as a significant action towards the TAP project implementation.
TAP's shareholding is comprised of BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Statoil (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagás (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
But Turkey does not hide its intention to acquire a stake in the project either.
Earlier, a source in Turkey's government told Trend that Ankara intends to buy a share in the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
The source also said the acquisition of a stake in TAP is a historic opportunity for Turkey, which Ankara doesn't intend to lose.
Ankara, according to the same source, is currently considering the acquisition of Statoil's 20 percent stake in TAP. It should be noted that Statoil earlier announced its readiness to sell a 20 percent stake in the project.
A stake in TAP is indeed very important for Turkey, as it has been pursuing an active energy policy in the recent decades. And examining the conditions put forward by Moscow for Ankara in the "Turkish Stream", it can be said that the acquisition of a stake in TAP becomes a priority for Turkey.
As of now, Turkey isn't able to make a definitive decision on acquisition of Statoil's 20 percent stake in TAP, the construction of which is expected to start in 2016.
However, it is not ruled out that Ankara will undertake this project right after Turkey forms a coalition government or holds a snap parliamentary election and announces their results.
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Rufiz Hafizoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Arabic news service, follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
