Four and a half years after the inauguration of construction works in Thessaloniki, Greece, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has begun commercial operations.
TAP pipeline terminal, Italy
The TAP pipeline terminal, in Melendugno, Italy. Photo: TAP
The 878km (546 miles) gas transportation system crosses Greece, Albania, the Adriatic Sea and ends in Italy.
TAP is the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor, a project that will transport 10 billion cubic metres (bcm/a) of new gas supplies from Azerbaijan to multiple markets in Europe, and one which is designed with the potential to double its throughput capacity to 20 bcm/a.
Around 55,000 pieces of pipe - weighing over 520,000 tonnes - were used in the project, which took more than 50 million man-hours to complete.
The pipeline is set to play an important role in Europe's energy security and diversification and was described by German energy minister Thomas Bareiss in 2019 as being "critical" in this respect.
Luca Schieppati, TAP’s Managing Director, said: “Today, a long-term vision has become a reality... As a new transmission system operator, developed and built in compliance with best industry practices and standards, TAP enables double diversification: a new, reliable and sustainable energy route and source of gas reaching millions of European end-users, for decades to come.”
Murad Heydarov, chairman of TAP's board of directors said: "Southern Gas Corridor is the pioneering carrier of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe and one of the most modern and reliable systems currently available for transporting energy. As a key component of the 3,500 km Southern Gas Corridor, TAP combines strategic and market competitive features."
Heydarov added that the pipeline will ensure Europe can receive gas supplies from another source, as well as supporting EU objectives for an integrated energy market and a secure, sustainable energy mix.
The TAP connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the border between Greece and Turkey.
TAP Greece map
Shareholders in the project include BP, Azerbaijani state-owned SOCAR, Italian energy company Snam, Belgium's Fluxys, Spain's Enagas and Axpo from Switzerland.
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