Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 7
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Construction of compressor stations as part of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) that envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, is processing according to schedule, Lisa Givert, TAP Head of Communications, told Trend.
She recalled that the construction of TAP’s compressor stations (one near Kipoi, in the east of Greece and one near Fier, in the west of Albania) began in the first quarter of 2017.
“In Fier, the turbo compressors have been delivered and installed. Overall, the Fier compressor station construction is over 40 percent complete,” said Givert.
TAP Head of Communications went on to add that at the Kipoi compressor station, overall construction progress is more than 55 percent complete.
“All three gas turbines have been installed and the building superstructures are almost ready. Piping, mechanical and electrical fit out works have commenced,” she added.
Givert further pointed out that in addition to the two compressor stations, there is also a gas metering station being constructed near Bilisht, in the east of Albania.
“Works at the metering station also commenced in the first quarter of 2017 and are now 40 percent complete,” she said.
She noted that the construction of the compressor and metering stations is a continuous activity over a period of approximately two years, after which pre-commissioning and commissioning checks will take place.
“These extensive checks, which will be conducted over a period of approximately six months, are required to ensure that the new facilities are functioning as per design and are safe and ready for the transport of gas,” added Givert.
TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU), and has already attracted 1.5 billion euros from the European Investment Bank (EIB), which approved the loan in early February 2018.
Connecting with the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas 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), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
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