BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The total amount of gas transported via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will depend on the nominations made by TAP’s shippers, TAP AG consortium told Trend.
Following the start of commercial operations on November 15, 2020, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) AG confirmed on December 31, 2020 the commencement of gas flows from Azerbaijan. The first gas 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 has already transported a total of 1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe via the Greek interconnection point of Kipoi, where TAP connects to the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP). Up to 60-70 million cubic meters of gas delivered to Italy via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline went to Northern Europe.
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline will conduct market tests at least every two years, to offer the expansion capacity (up to TAP’s total capacity of 20 bcm/a).
TAP launched a market test back in July 2019, in coordination with adjacent transmission system operators (TSOs). The non-binding phase of the market test has been concluded, while the binding bidding phase is due to be launched in July this year. The final results of the market test to double the Trans Adriatic Pipeline’s (TAP) capacity will be announced in October.
Should there be also firm long-term demand for expansion beyond the total design capacity of 20 bcm/a, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline consortium will investigate its economic and technical feasibility at that time.
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline will be able to transport not only natural gas, but also hydrogen in the future. It will in the future be able to transport 10 percent of hydrogen mixed with natural gas. It means that the pipeline will be ready to make 1 billion cubic meters of hydrogen available per year. TAP AG consortium will shortly start a feasibility study.
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