Trans Adriatic Pipeline

Trans Adriatic Pipeline

Map of Trans Adriatic Pipeline
Location
Country Greece
Albania
Italy
General direction East-West
From Kipoi, Evros
Passes through Fier
To Melendugno[1]
General information
Type Natural gas
Partners BP (20%)
SOCAR (20%)
Snam (20%)
Fluxys (19%)
Enagás (16%)
Axpo (5%)[2]
Operator Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG
Construction started 2015[3]
Expected 2018[3]
Technical information
Length 870[1] km (540 mi)
Maximum discharge 10–20 billion cubic metres per annum[4]
Diameter 48[5] in (1,219 mm)

Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP; Albanian: Gazsjellësi Trans-Adriatik, Azerbaijani: Trans Adriatik Boru Xətti Greek: Αδριατικός Αγωγός Φυσικού Αερίου, Italian: Gasdotto Trans-Adriatico) is a pipeline project to transport natural gas from the Caspian sea (Azerbaijan), starting from Greece via Albania and the Adriatic Sea to Italy and further to Western Europe.

History

Trans Adriatic Pipeline project was announced in 2003 by Swiss energy company EGL Group (now named Axpo). The feasibility study was concluded in March 2006. Two options were investigated: a northern route through Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia and Albania, and a southern route through Greece and Albania, which finally was considered to be more feasible. In March 2007, the extended basic engineering for the pipeline was completed.[6]

On 13 February 2008, EGL Group and the Norwegian energy company Statoil signed an agreement to set up Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG, a joint venture to develop, build and operate the pipeline.[7] In June 2008, the project company filed an application with the Greek authorities to build a 200 kilometres (120 mi) section of the pipeline from Thessaloniki to the Greek-Albanian border.[8] In January 2009, the TAP project carried out a marine survey in the Adriatic Sea to verify the offshore route for the future gas pipeline.[9] A route assessment survey in Albania started in July 2009.[10] In March 2009, an intergovernmental agreement between Italy and Albania on energy cooperation mentioned TAP as a project of common interest for both countries. In January 2010, TAP opened country offices in Greece, Albania and Italy.[11] In March 2010, TAP submitted an application to Italian authorities for inclusion into the Italian gas network.[12]

On 20 May 2010, it was announced that E.ON becomes a partner in the project.[13] The deal was successfully closed on 7 July 2010.[14]

In November 2010, TAP started a route refinement survey in northern Greece in preparation for the environmental impact assessment.[15] On 7 September 2011, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP AG) submitted its EU Third Party Access Exemption applications in all three host countries. Exemption will allow TAP AG to enter into long term ship-or-pay gas transportation agreements with the shippers of Shah Deniz II gas.[16][17] The exemptions were granted on 16 May 2013.[18][19]

In February 2012, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline was the first project to be pre-selected and to enter exclusive negotiations with the Shah Deniz Consortium.[20] In August 2012, consortium partners BP, SOCAR and Total S.A. signed a funding agreement with TAP's shareholders, including an option to take up to 50% equity in the project.[21] On 22 November 2012, the TAP consortium and Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline's partners signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes a cooperation framework between the two parties.[22] In June 2013, the project was chosen as a route for gas from Shah Deniz II over the competing Nabucco West project.[23] Later in 2013, BP, SOCAR, Total, and Fluxys became shareholders of the project.[24] In December 2015, Snam joined TAP, acquiring Statoil’s 20% interest in the project. [25]

Political support

Since it will enhance energy security and diversify gas supplies for several European markets, the TAP project is supported by the European institutions and seen as a "Project of Common Interest" and a part of the Southern Gas Corridor.[26][27] On 28 September 2012, Albania, Greece and Italy confirmed their political support for the pipeline by signing a memorandum of understanding.[28] In February 2013, Greece, Italy and Albania signed an intergovernmental agreement.[29]

Technical description

The pipeline starts at the Greece–Turkey border at Kipoi, Evros, where it will be connected with the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline. It will cross Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea and come ashore in Italy near San Foca. The total length of the pipeline will be 867 kilometres (539 mi), of which 547 kilometres (340 mi) in Greece, 211 kilometres (131 mi) in Albania, 104 kilometres (65 mi) in offshore, and 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) in Italy. The offshore leg will be laid at a maximum depth of 810 metres (2,660 ft).[30]

The initial capacity of the pipeline will be about 10 billion cubic metres (350 billion cubic feet) of natural gas per year, with the option to expand the capacity up to 20 billion cubic metres (710 billion cubic feet).[7] It will use 48-inch (1,200 mm) pipes for pressure of 95 bars (9,500 kPa) on the onshore section and 36-inch (910 mm) pipes for pressure of 145 bars (14,500 kPa) on the offshore section.[30]

TAP also plans to develop an underground natural gas storage facility in Albania and offer a reverse flow possibility of up to 8.5 billion cubic metres (300 billion cubic feet). These features will ensure additional energy security for the Southeastern Europe.[31][32] Total construction costs are expected to be about €1.5 billion.[7] TAP is ready to commence pipeline operations in time for first gas exports from Shah Deniz II (expected in 2017–2018).[16][33]

Supply sources

The pipeline would be supplied by natural gas from the second stage of the Shah Deniz gas field development in the Azerbaijani section of Caspian Sea through the South Caucasus Pipeline and the planned Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP).[34][35]

Project company

Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG is a joint venture company registered in Baar, canton Zug, Switzerland, with a purpose of planning, developing and building the TAP pipeline. [36] The Managing Director of the company is Ian Bradshaw.[37]

Shareholders of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline are BP (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagas (16%) and Axpo (5%).[38]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Trans Adriatic Pipeline route". tap-ag.com. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "About us". tap-ag.com. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  3. 1 2 "TAP project development schedule". tap-ag.com. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "TAP at a glance". Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline". tap-ag.com. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Natural gas pipeline through Adriatic achieves major milestone" (Press release). EGL. 2007-03-13. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  7. 1 2 3 "StatoilHydro takes place at TAP table". Upstream Online (NHST Media Group). 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  8. ↑ "TAP lays groundwork in Greece". Upstream Online (NHST Media Group). 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  9. ↑ "Marine survey in the Adriatic Sea to verify offshore route of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline" (Press release). Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG. 2009-01-22. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  10. ↑ "Route assessment survey begins in Albania for Trans Adriatic Pipeline". Balkans.com Business News. 2009-07-13. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  11. ↑ "Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline Co. Opens Offices in Albania, Italy, Greece". SeeNews. 2010-01-20. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  12. ↑ "Trans Adriatic Pipeline taps into Italy's gas grid". Pipelines International. 2010-03-17. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  13. ↑ "E.ON Ruhrgas joins Trans Adriatic Pipeline". Oil and Gas Journal (PennWell Corporation). 2010-05-21. (subscription required). Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  14. ↑ "E.ON firms TAP stake". Upstream Online (NHST Media Group). 2010-07-07. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  15. ↑ "Trans-Adriatic Pipeline begins route refinement study in northern Greece". European Energy Review. 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  16. 1 2 "Trans Adriatic Pipeline submits Third Party Access Exemptions in Albania, Greece & Italy". Greece. Energia.gr. 2011-09-13. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  17. ↑ "Trans Adriatic Pipeline submits Independent Natural Gas application to Greek regulator". Offshore Magazine (PennWell Corporation). 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  18. ↑ "Commission decision of 16.5.2013 on the exemption of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline from the requirements on third party access, tariff regulation and ownership unbundling laid down in Articles 9, 32, 41(6), 41(8) and 41(10) of Directive 2009/73/EC" (PDF). European Commission. 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  19. ↑ Gloystein, Henning (2013-05-17). "TAP gas pipeline project gets vital legal approval" (PDF). Reuters. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  20. ↑ Geropoulos, Kostis (2012-02-21). "TAP, Nabucco and SEEP still in EU pipeline race". New Europe. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  21. ↑ Lewis, Barbara (9 August 2012). "BP, Socar, Total pledge to fund gas pipeline-TAP". Reuters. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  22. ↑ "TAP Managing Director: Cooperation with TANAP is milestone for Southern Gas Corridor progress". Trend News Agency. 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  23. ↑ O'Cinneide, Eoin (2013-06-28). "TAP confirmed as Shah Deniz 2 winner". Upstream Online (NHST Media Group). Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  24. ↑ Socor, Vladimir (15 January 2014). "SCP, TANAP, TAP: Segments of the Southern Gas Corridor to Europe". Eurasia Daily Monitor 11 (8) (Heritage Foundation). Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  25. ↑ Badalova, Aygun. "Snam becomes shareholder in TAP". Trend.az. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  26. ↑ Gas Regional Investment Plan Southern Corridor 2012 - 2021. Annex B: Infrastructure Projects (PDF) (Report). ENTSOG. 2012-01-30. p. 46. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  27. ↑ "Trans Adriatic Pipeline EU status". Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) AG. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  28. ↑ Agayev, Zulfugar (28 September 2012). "TAP Gas Pipeline Project Gains Support of Italy, Greece, Albania". Bloomberg. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  29. ↑ "Commissioner Oettinger welcomes the signature of an intergovernmental agreement on TAP" (Press release). European Commission. 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  30. 1 2 "Connecting Caspian Gas to European Markets. A summary of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline's Decision Support Package proposal to the Shah Deniz Consortium" (PDF). Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  31. ↑ "Europe's southern gas corridor: The great pipeline race". EurActiv. 2010-10-11. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  32. ↑ Grgic, Borut (2010-05-11). "Getting natural gas to the Balkans". Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  33. ↑ "Turkey, Azerbaijan sign long-awaited gas deal". Azerbaijan. News.az. 2010-06-07. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  34. ↑ "Time to act on diversifying EU gas supplies". New Europe. Retrieved Jan 20, 2013.
  35. ↑ "Adriatic pipeline to tap into Azeri gas". EurActiv. 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
  36. ↑ "Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG, Baar" (in German). itonex ag. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  37. ↑ Schaps, Karolin (7 January 2015). "Trans Adriatic Pipeline hires BG executive as new managing director". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  38. ↑ Badalova, Aygun (17 December 2015). "Snam becomes shareholder in TAP". Trend.az. Retrieved 18 December 2015.

External links

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