BAKU, Azerbaijan, Oct.8
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The construction of the Fier-Vlora gas pipeline, part of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) in Albania, will be supported by the European Commission’s Economic and Investment Plan, which was adopted 6 October, Trend reports.
The plan envisages supporting:
in transport, the Blue highway along the Adriatic coast;
the Mediterranean Rail Corridor;
on energy the rehabilitation of the Fierza Hydro Power Plant, the advancement of the construction of the Skavica Hydro Power Plant and as part of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, the construction of the Fier-Vlora gas pipeline, and the Ionian-Adriatic pipeline along the coast;
the establishment of integrated regional waste management systems, going hand-in-hand with the closure of non-compliant landfills;
in digital a Broadband Infrastructure Development scheme.
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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