BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov.7
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
All issues related to the implementation of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, have been resolved, said Greece’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Kostis Hatzidakis.
He made the remarks after a meeting with the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the US Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs with responsibility for the Western Balkans and the Aegean Matthew Palmer, Trend reports with reference to Greek Ministry of Energy and Environment.
He pointed out that Greece's strategic partnership with the US in the energy sector is very positive.
“I briefed the US side about the progress we have made recently in a number of energy projects. Firstly, it is the signing of an agreement on Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB). Second, all issues related to TAP have been resolved,” said the Greek minister.
Palmer, for his part hailed the progress in the implementation of TAP project.
He said it is important that Europe is supporting and promoting energy security through diversity of supply and TAP, as well as IGB is a big piece of that.
At the end of September 2019, the TAP project, the final leg of the Southern Gas Corridor, was 89.8 percent completed.
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