Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 22 / Trend A.Badalova /
Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will allow the Caspian gas to access the most attractive markets at very competitive tariffs, TAP official representative told Trend.
"TAP's routing is strategic as it allows to transport Caspian gas via the shortest route with a very competitive tariff to some of the most attractive markets," the official wrote Trend in an e-mail.
According to the official, the pipeline will seamlessly interconnect with Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) near the Turkish-Greek border, cross Greece and Albania, allowing gas supply to South Eastern European countries including Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and others.
"TAP's chosen landfall in Italy also provides multiple opportunities for further transport of natural gas to the largest European markets, Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland and Austria," the official added.
TAP project is designed to transport gas from the Caspian region via Greece and Albania and across the Adriatic Sea to southern Italy and further into Western Europe. Gas to be produced within the second phase of Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas condensate field development is considered as the main source for TAP.
TAP's initial pipeline capacity will be 10 billion cubic metres per year, but is easily expandable to 20 billion cubic metres per year. TAP's shareholders are AXPO of Switzerland (42.5 percent), Norway's Statoil (42.5 percent) and E.ON Ruhrgas of Germany (15 percent).
In case of selection of TAP as a final pipeline route to transport Azerbaijani gas to Europe, the construction of the pipeline will start in 2015.
Currently, the Shah Deniz consortium is considering two options for its gas transportation to Europe - TAP and Nabucco West. The final decision on the pipeline route will be made in June, 2013.
TANAP project envisages gas transportation from Shah Deniz field to Europe via Turkey. The initial capacity of the pipeline is expected to reach 16 billion cubic meters per year. Around 6 billion cubic meters will be delivered to Turkey, and the rest - to Europe.