BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Azerbaijan is the first supplier of crude oil to Italy and now, thanks to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), also the third gas supplier, Azerbaijani ambassador to Italy Mammad Ahmadzada told Euractiv, Trend reports.
“Last year we supplied approximately 7 billion cubic meters of gas to Italy. During the visit, our Minister of Energy pointed out that if the current growth rate of production continues, our gas exports to Italy can reach 9.5 billion cubic meters by the end of this year with long-term and spot contracts. The minister also noted the possibility of carrying a 10 percent hydrogen mixture with the expansion of TAP. And just in these days, the same leaders of TAP have stated that at the moment the pipeline is going to a maximum, 33 million cubic meters per day, an annual average of about 12 billion cubic meters, of which 10.5 billion cubic meters accounts for Italy,” said the envoy.
As the European section of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP has the capacity to transport approximately 10 billion cubic meters of gas per annum (bcm/a) to several markets in Europe. The pipeline is also designed with the potential to expand its throughput capacity up to 20 bcm/a.
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.
TAP’s shareholding is comprised of bp (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagás (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
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