Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 8 / Trend E.Ismayilov /
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has submitted its Single Authorization application to the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, TAP reported.
"The submission is a key step towards obtaining the final per-mits and authorizations for construction and operation of TAP's gas pipeline in Italy," the report reads.
The Italian Ministry will henceforth consult with municipal, provincial, regional and central authorities; a process that will be conducted in parallel with TAP's Environmental Impact Assessment process which was launched earlier in 2011 and which complies with the world-leading EBRD guidelines for environmental and social protection.
"This constitutes another key submission from TAP in recent months towards obtaining final permits in all our host countries, allowing TAP to initiate construction and operation to bring Caspian gas from Shah Deniz into European markets (expected in 2017/2018)," Managing Director of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline Kjetil Tungland said.
TAP pipeline project, which is one of South Gas Corridor projects, envisages gas exports from the Caspian Sean and Middle East regions to the European market. Its initial capacity will be 10 billion cubic meters per year and maximum - 20 billion. The shareholders of the project are the Swiss EGL Company (42.5 percent), Norwegian Statoil (42.5 percent) and German E.ON Ruhrgas (15 percent). Initial pipeline capacity will be 10 billion cubic meters per year, maximum - 20 billion.
The gas produced within the second phase of the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz Field is considered to be a main gas source for the Southern Gas Corridor project, in particular the TAP project. Its reserves are estimated at 1.2 billion cubic meters.
The consortium expects concrete proposals from various pipeline projects, including TAP, by Oct. 1, based on which a transportation route will be chosen by late this year.
The South Corridor is a priority EU energy project diversifying energy supply routes and sources and increasing EU energy security. The Southern Corridor includes the Nabucco gas pipeline, Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), White Stream, and ITGI (Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline).