BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec.18
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Mechanical completion was successfully achieved at the Kipoi compressor station of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) in Greece in November, Vugar Veysalov, TAP Head of External Affairs, told Trend.
TAP’s contactor continues to focus on the remaining pre-commissioning activities to meet the targeted testing dates, he said.
“At the Fier compressor station in Albania, construction works are substantially complete. Pre-commissioning and completion activities for the testing phase are ongoing,” noted Veysalov.
Finally, the construction works on the metering station at Bilisht, Albania (near the Greek border) are complete and mechanical completion is under review, he said, adding that the focus here is on the final completions and commissioning works.
“After completing the construction activities, our teams are focused on pre-commissioning activities in all three stations to achieve the scheduled testing dates,” added Veysalov.
TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. The 878 km long pipeline connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.
First gas deliveries to Europe via TAP will start in October 2020.
TAP’s routing can facilitate gas supply to several South Eastern European countries. TAP’s landfall in Italy provides multiple opportunities for further transport of Caspian gas to the wider European markets.
TAP promotes economic development and job creation along the pipeline route; it is also a major source of foreign direct investment.
TAP’s shareholding is comprised of BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagás (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
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