Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.25
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The consortium of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has commented on Russian Gazprom’s plans to use the pipeline for delivering gas to Europe.
Deputy CEO of Russia’s Gazprom Alexander Medvedev earlier said that the company is discussing the possibility of using Poseidon and TAP to export gas to Europe.
Lisa Givert, TAP Head of Communications, told Trend that TAP is underpinned by a long-term gas transportation agreement for a period of 25 years.
“TAP’s shareholders remain BP (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagas (16%) and Axpo (5%),” she added.
Givert pointed out that TAP is fully committed to transporting Shah Deniz phase II volumes – initially 10 billion cubic meters of gas annually – from the Caspian Sea through Greece, Albania and into Italy.
“Our pipeline is strategically important for Europe to diversify gas supply sources in South Eastern Europe,” she said.
Earlier, Federico Ermoli, Vice-President of Italy’s Snam company, which is one of TAP shareholders, said that the pipeline’s capacity can be expanded and used for delivering Russian gas to Europe.
Moreover, CEO of Fluxys Pascal De Buck told reporters on the sidelines of the European Gas Conference that “this is a very good idea”.
TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor which is one of the priority energy projects for the EU.
TAP project envisages transportation of gas from the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas and condensate field to the EU countries.
The pipeline will be connected to the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy's south.