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TAP continues all engineering, procurement and construction activities amid COVID-19

Oil&Gas Materials 3 April 2020 13:18 (UTC +04:00)
TAP continues all engineering, procurement and construction activities amid COVID-19

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 3

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

All engineering, procurement and construction activities as part of the implementation of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project continue amid coronavirus, Trend reports referring to the TAP AG consortium.

“In Greece and Albania onshore construction and reinstatement are substantially complete. The compressor stations in Fier and Kipoi as well as the metering station and Bilisht are also complete and preparations for the introduction of natural gas continue. In Italy, activities for the completion of the onshore section of the pipeline and the pipeline receiving terminal (PRT) as well as the offshore pipeline construction are ongoing as per the schedule,” said TAP AG.

TAP’s market test regarding potential further expansion is currently in progress.

“After publishing the draft project proposal for incremental capacity together with Snam Rete Gas and DESFA on 20 January 2020, TAP intends to proceed with the subsequent phases of the market test, in line with the Guidelines for the 2019 Market Test of Trans Adriatic Pipeline, approved by the National Regulatory Authorities of Greece, Italy and Albania,” said the consortium.

TAP AG has implemented smart working from home for the majority of its employees and consultants in all host-countries: Switzerland, Greece, Albania and Italy.

“Working conditions of personnel on the ground are in full compliance with the host countries' sanitary provisions. Only business-critical activities are ongoing, similar to utility services, which provide the energy needed for our homes and businesses. In parallel, we continue to raise awareness around the correct behaviours for limiting the spread of the virus. We are regularly disinfecting TAP facilities, in line with hygiene best practices and provisions of public health authorities,” said the consortium.

TAP said it is also in close contact and coordination with its lead contractors to promote the implementation of measures for the health and safety of their workers.

“In Italy – the country with the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Europe – in compliance with authorities’ provisions, a permanent medical unit is available 24/7 at the worksites. Also, construction sites and offices are sanitised daily,” said the consortium.

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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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn

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