Trans Adriatic Pipeline Enters Initial Testing Phase

(P&GJ) — The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has introduced the first natural gas into a 2.5-mile (4-km) section of the pipeline at the Greek-Albanian border as it prepares for first gas deliveries to Europe by the end of 2020. 

TAP said the initial stage of pipeline testing began May 20, in line with national and international safety and operational standards. After commissioning of the first section, gas will be gradually introduced into other sections of the Albanian pipeline and beyond through the coming months, it said.

The three transmission system operators – TAP, Snam Rete Gas and DESFA also announced that they have postponed the binding bidding phase of the ongoing market test to July 2021 to allow more time for markets to recover from the pandemic-driven downturn. A draft project proposal published earlier this year projected that the bidding phase would begin in January 2021.

TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. The 878 km (546-mile) 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’s routing will facilitate gas supply to several South Eastern European countries. TAP’s landfall in Italy provides connections for further transport of Caspian gas to the wider European markets. 

TAP’s shareholders include BP (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagás (16%) and Axpo (5%).

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