BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 28
By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) consortium intends to proceed with subsequent phases of the market test, Vugar Veysalov, TAP Head of External Affairs, told Trend.
He noted that TAP’s market test continues as planned.
“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 Veysalov.
On 1 July 2019, Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) launched a Market Test, the commercial process through which natural gas shippers can get access to new, long-term capacity in TAP, thereby enabling the future expansion of the pipeline capacity.
TAP’s Market Test is structured in two main phases:
- Non-binding phase: starting 1 July 2019.
- Binding phase: expected to start earliest in Q2 2020.
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Non-binding phase |
Demand Assessment Phase (up to 16 weeks) |
A) Interested Parties may submit non-binding demand indications to TAP within 8 weeks after the start of the Annual Yearly Capacity Auction B) TAP and adjacent TSOs coordinate to publish Demand Assessment Reports (“DAR”) within 16 weeks after the start of the Annual Yearly Capacity Auction |
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Coordinated Design Phase |
A) Within 12 weeks after the start of the Coordinated Design Phase, TAP and adjacent TSOs coordinate to publish draft Expansion Project(s). B) Following public consultation, TAP will coordinate with adjacent TSOs to submit draft Expansion Project(s) for approval of the relevant Authorities. C) Authorities consider the draft Expansion Project(s) and publish coordinated decisions |
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Binding phase |
Information Phase |
A) TAP will coordinate with adjacent TSOs to publish the approved Expansion Project(s) as w ell as any other documentation necessary for the Binding Bidding Phase. B) Interested Parties will have a minimum of two months to consider the published documentation prior to the start of the Binding Bidding Phase |
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Binding Bidding Phase |
A) Interested Parties may submit Binding Bids B) TAP verifies Economic Viability Tests and coordinates with adjacent TSOs for their economic tests. Capacity is allocated in accordance with the FJO, the TAP Tariff Code and the approved Expansion Projects, respecting any conditionality of bids |
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.
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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