Azerbaijan, Baku, June 13 / Trend A.Badalova /
Six South Eastern European countries - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy and Montenegro demonstrated their support for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) projects during the meeting of these countries' Ministers of Foreign Affairs, TAP reported on Thursday.
This high level meeting, held in Dubrovnik (Croatia) on June 12, was attended by representatives from Azerbaijan, the European Commission and TAP.
According to External Affairs Director of TAP Michael Hoffmann, the Dubrovnik meeting is a testament to TAP project's advanced status and unmatched benefits.
"TAP is the most strategic solution for supplying gas to South Eastern Europe: it will contribute to boosting energy security in the region and enhance economic development. With the Shah Deniz consortium decision on the Southern Gas Corridor expected by the end of the month, we remain confident that TAP is the best solution to transport Caspian gas to Europe: the shortest, most technically feasible and, above all, the only project ready for implementation," Hoffmann said.
The TAP project is designed to transport gas from the Caspian region via Greece and Albania and across the Adriatic Sea to the south of Italy and further into Western Europe. Gas to be produced during the second stage of Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field development is considered as the main source for TAP. The pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) near the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cros s Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.
TAP's routing can facilitate gas supply to several South Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and others.
The TAP route will be approximately 870 kilometres in length (Greece 550 km; Albania 210 km; offshore Adriatic Sea 15km; Italy 5 km). TAP's shareholders are Axpo of Switzerland (42.5%), Norway's Statoil (42.5%) and E.ON Ruhrgas of Germany (15%).
Currently the Shah Deniz consortium considers two options to transport its gas to Europe - TAP and Nabucco West. The final decision on the European pipeline route will be made at the end of June.