BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.5
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
North Macedonia will launch a tender for the planned construction of the 68-kilometre Negotino - Gevgelija natural gas pipeline by the end of the year, which will allow the country to be connected to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, transport minister Blagoj Bochvarski said, Trend reports.
The government expects to receive a building permit for the pipeline by the middle of 2021, Bochvarski said.
Bochvarski added that the construction of the gas pipeline from Negotino to Bitola and the pipeline from Skopje to Gostivar will be completed in 2021.
The Negotino - Gevgelija gas pipeline will run from the city of Gevgelija, at the border with Greece, to the city of Negotino where it will connect to the Shtip - Negotino pipeline. This interconnection will allow North Macedonia to connect to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) through Greece.
Following the start of commercial operations on November 15, 2020, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) AG confirmed on Dec. 31 the commencement of gas flows from Azerbaijan. The first gas has reached Greece and Bulgaria, via the Nea Mesimvria interconnection point with DESFA, as well as Italy, via the Melendugno interconnection point with SNAM Rete Gas (SRG).
TAP transports natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijan 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.
TAP will facilitate gas supplies to South Eastern European countries through prospective interconnectors. In particular, Bulgaria will be able to cover up to 33% of its total gas demand through TAP after the completion of the Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB). TAP’s exits in Greece and Albania together with the landfall in Italy provide multiple opportunities for further transport of gas from Azerbaijan to the wider European markets.
TAP’s shareholding is comprised of bp (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagás (16%) and Axpo (5%).
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