Baku, Azerbaijan, March 28
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) Greek section will be completed in November 2018, said project director for Greece Katerina Papalexandri.
She made the remarks during a briefing on the progress of the works in Kastoria, Greece.
“Tests will be carried out by mid-2019, when hydrocarbon introduction will begin and in 2020 the project will be ready for commercial operation,” the Greek Observer quoted Papalexandri as saying.
TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.
Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network.
The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016.
Once built, TAP will offer a direct and cost-effective transportation route opening up the vital Southern Gas Corridor, a 3,500-kilometer long gas value chain stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe.
TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagás (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn