The construction of the Greek section of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has now been completed and the first natural gas has been introduced into a 2 km (1.25 mile) section as part of the testing phase.
TAP - Kipoi compressor station
Piping and isolation valves at the cooling towers of the Kipoi compressor station, October 2019 Photo: TAP
A section between the Evros river and the Kipoi compressor station has been used in this initial testing phase which looks to ensure that the infrastructure is safe and ready for operations when the entire project is complete.
The €4.5-billion project - considered a priority for energy security and diversity by the EU - will see gas transported from the Shah Deniz II gas field in Azerbaijan to Greece, Albania and Italy.
The TAP pipeline links with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the border between Turkey and Greece and runs west through the country, through Albania and across the Adriatic Sea where it will connect with southern Italy.
TAP Greece map
The introduction of gas into the system of pipelines is seen as an important milestone towards the start of gas deliveries.
John Haynes, TAP Project Director, said: “More than three and a half years since the start of construction, 46 million man-hours worked safely and 128 million kilometres driven without any major incidents, we are pleased to have the pipeline system progressively ready for the complex commissioning phase.”
First announced in 2003, construction on the TAP project did not begin until 2016. When completed, the pipeline will open up the Southern Gas Corridor, which will extend to 3,500 km (2,175 miles) from the Caspian Sea to Europe.
Construction of the project required the excavation of around 5,400 km³ of trenches and the laying of 55,000 18 metre long pipes.
Looking to the project's future, TAP Managing Director, Luca Schieppati, added: “The upcoming months will be key in ensuring the pipeline is commissioned and progressively tested to be ready for October 2020 for operations and the start of commercial gas deliveries to Europe. In parallel, we are preparing for commercial operations as a Transmission System Operator and an Independent Transmission Operator. It has been an exciting journey and we look forward to bringing a new source of gas into Europe by means of a new route, contributing to a more diversified and secure energy mix.”
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