Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17
By Aygun Badalova - Trend:
Georgia is committed to the diversification of energy supplies to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor, Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili said during the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) groundbreaking ceremony in Thessaloniki, Greece on May 17.
He said that the realization of the Southern Gas Corridor illustrates that energy became a cornerstone and opportunity for the countries involved to enhance economic growth and security.
He also added that TAP will facilitate the connection of a number of existing and proposed pipelines.
TAP, which is the part of the Southern Gas Corridor project, envisages transportation of gas from the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas and condensate field to the EU countries.
The 870-kilometer TAP will be connected to the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy's south.
TAP's shareholding is comprised of BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagás (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).