Azerbaijan, Baku, March 17 / Trend A.Badalova /
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) submitted an official application to the Italian Economic Development Ministry to be included in the Rete Nazionale Gas (RNG) Grid.
"This step is the latest significant progress toward the project's implementation," the source reported.
Once the request is granted, TAP will be officially registered as an interconnector to the Italian gas network with 15 kilometes of an onshore pipeline in Puglia from Brin-disi to Mesagne.
TAP, which is part of the Southern Corridor project, is designed to transport gas from the Caspian region and the Middle East to Europe. The pipeline will begin in Greece and pass through Albania and the Adriatic Sea to Italy.
The German RWE, which is a Nabucco shareholder, assesses the Italian gas market at 74.5 billion cubic meters of fuel per year. BP reported that as of Jan.1, 2009, Italy's proved gas reserves amounted to 120 billion cubic meters, with demand at 77.7 billion in 2008. Italy's own gas production amounted to 8.4 billion cubic meters in 2008.
Italy meets its domestic gas demand at the expense of gas imports from Russia and Algeria. Smaller volumes are purchased from Libya, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and Britain.
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline is planned to start operations in 2011. The pipeline includes a 115-kilometer underwater section from Albania to Italy. The estimated cost of the construction will amount to $2.2 billion. The length of the pipeline is 520 kilometers and the initial capacity will be 10 billion cubic meters, maximum 20 billion, per year. Norway's Statoil and Swiss EGL are shareholders in the project.