BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 23
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The 2019 Market Test for expanding the Trans Adriatic Pipeline’s (TAP) capacity from 10 billion cubic meters per year to 20 billion cubic meters per year has ended and no binding bids have been submitted, TAP’s commercial team told Trend.
“Market tests are held at least every two years and interested parties can now follow the 2021 Market Test process, which was launched on 12 July 2021. Non-binding capacity and connection requests can be submitted until 6 September 2021,” said the consortium.
On July 12 2021, TAP launched a new market test to allow natural gas shippers to express interest, and in a later phase, secure access to new, long-term capacity in TAP, thereby enabling the future expansion of the pipeline capacity.
The market test will be conducted in two main phases: a non-binding phase, starting on 12 July 2021, followed by a binding phase, expected to start earliest in the summer of 2022.
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.
As a key part of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP is strategically and economically important to Europe and essential in providing reliable access to a new source of natural gas. TAP plays a significant role in boosting Europe’s energy security, supply diversification, as well as decarbonisation objectives.
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