TAP Construction Kicks Off

Construction works of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) start today at the official launching ceremony in Thessaloniki, Greece, hosted by Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras.

TAP will be an 870 km long gas pipeline running from Komotini in Greece to Puglia in Italy, via Albania. It will be used to transport gas from Shah Deniz II gas field in the Caspian Sea.

The event was attended by the European Commission vice-president for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič.

Vice-President Šefčovič said: “Once complete, TAP will be a major asset in European energy security tool box. By opening up access to gas from Azerbaijan, TAP will allow many countries, including in Central and South East Europe to diversify their sources of gas. Southern Gas Corridor will be vital for reaching the Energy Union objectives of diversification of sources, routes and energy security. Therefore timely completion is crucial so that gas from the new suppliers can flow to Europe by 2020.”

Saipem was awarded a contract for the offshore section of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project. The EPCI contract (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation) involves the installation of a gas pipeline between the coastlines of Albania and Italy, across the Adriatic Sea.

Photo: TAP