Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.23
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Construction works are substantially complete at the compressor station near Kipoi, Greece, Lisa Givert, TAP Head of Communications, told Trend.
“At the end of the second quarter of 2019, Kipoi was connected to the electrical utility provider. The focus now is on the completions and pre-commissioning phases to meet the introduction of hydrocarbon date,” she said.
Givert went on to add that in Fier, Albania, construction works are substantially complete (with the exception of some of the final electrical and instrumentation scope, with mechanical works complete and civil, buildings, piping scope near completion).
“Finally, the construction works on our metering station at Bilisht, Albania (near the Greek border) are complete. The focus here is on the final completions and commissioning works. Our teams continue to work towards overall construction completion scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019. The completion / commissioning process is ongoing in all three stations,” she added.
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).
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