BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 22
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The final report on the environmental impact study of the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) project is expected to be received soon, said Montenegrin Economy Ministry, Trend reports.
"The comments received during the public debate are processed by the author of the study. However, the situation with the COVID-19 has negatively affected the implementation of these activities. We expect the final report soon," Vijesti quoted the sources at the ministry saying.
"Montenegro's economy ministry and Albania's economy ministry applied in 2018 and in September 2018 received a grant from the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) for the development of a conceptual design for the pipeline through Montenegro and Albania, together with an environmental impact study of the pipeline. The period for the realization of this project is 24 months", said the sources.
Ionian Adriatic Pipeline can be connected to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to transport gas to many countries in South-East Europe.
The pipeline with total length of 516 kilometers will stretch from Albania through Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to split in Croatia.
The capacity of the pipeline will amount to five billion cubic meters of gas per year.
The European Commission recognizes the importance of the Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline for the regional gas market, in particular Croatia, Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As a signal of its relevance for the region, the Commission has awarded IAP the status of Project of Mutual Interest (PMI), category of infrastructure projects that includes those that benefit one or more Contracting Parties(Western Balkan countries, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia) and one or more Member States but do not have a Project of common interest (PCl) status in the European Union, in line with the Regulation (EU) 347/2013.
Given its PMI status, Commission’s funding under specific programmes, such as the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), could be explored for the support of the construction of IAP in the Western Balkan countries.
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