Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17
By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:
Construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) marks the beginning of creation of a new sustainable energy market in the region, said Berat Albayrak, Turkish energy minister.
Albayrak made the statement at the TAP groundbreaking ceremony in Thessaloniki, Greece, May 17.
He said gas is the main source of energy for Europe and will remain as such.
The minister also said Turkey is ready to discuss all the possible options for gas supply.
TAP is the third part of the Southern Gas Corridor, envisaging Azerbaijani gas supplies to Europe, along with the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) and Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP).
TAP 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 pipeline 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.
It is expected that the first gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas field will reach Europe via TAP in 2020.
TAP's initial capacity will be 10 billion cubic meters of gas a year, expandable to 20 billion cubic meters.
TAP shareholders are: BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).