Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 15 /Trend A.Badalova/
Germany's Roland Berger company has become a consultant for the Albanian government in the negotiations for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, Balkans Business News website reported referring to Albania's Minister of Economy Nasip Naco.
The company won an international tender to provide consultancy services on the development of gas infrastructure projects in Albania, the economy ministry said in a statement.
Roland Berger will advise Albania on its negotiations with TAP consortium in order to achieve the best benefits from the project.
The second round of negotiations between Albania and the TAP Consortium was held in Tirana this week.
The negotiation of a Host Government (Permit) Agreement (HGA) between TAP and the Albanian Economy, Trade and Energy Ministry was launched in late November. The Agreement will define the terms and conditions under which the development, construction and operation of the pipeline will be secured through a legally binding framework.
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline will transport gas from the Caspian region via Greece and Albania and across the Adriatic Sea to southern Italy and further into Western Europe. The project is aimed at enhancing security of supply as well as diversification of gas supplies for the European markets. The total length of the pipeline is about 800 kilometers.
The initial pipeline capacity will be 10 billion cubic meters per year. TAP's shareholders are EGL of Switzerland (42.5 percent), Norway's Statoil (42.5 percent) and E.ON Ruhrgas of Germany (15 percent).
Gas, which will be produced during the second stage of Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas condensate field development, is considered as the main source for TAP project.
Roland Berger is a major player in the highly competitive management consulting services in the German market. Today, Roland Berger is Germany's second largest management consultancy, with a share of more than one fifth of the market.