Trans Adriatic Pipeline project will increase its capacity to 20 billion cubic meters, says project’s managing director
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will transport 10 billion cubic meters of gas annually from the Shah Deniz phase II field in the initial operational phase in early 2020 and is designed to double its capacity, the manager director of the project said Tuesday.
“TAP is designed to double its capacity to 20 billion cubic meters by installing additional compressor units and stations. It also has reverse flow capability which can provide alternative gas supplies as well as ensuring gas flows in the event of an emergency or potential cut off further upstream,” Ian Bradshaw, TAP’s managing director told Anadolu Agency.
TAP is the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) which is considered as one of the most complex gas value chains being developed in the world. The project aims to bring Caspian resources to European energy markets for the very first time. Natural gas from the Shah Deniz field, the largest natural gas field in Azerbaijan, will make a 3,500 kilometer journey from the Caspian Sea to Europe.
The Southern Gas Corridor consists of three pipeline projects, including the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCPX) through Azerbaijan and Georgia, the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) through Turkey and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) through Greece, Albania and Italy.
“South East Europe is one of the regions that could benefit the most from opening the SGC, and TAP remains committed to facilitating connections to several gas markets in this region,” Bradshaw underlined.
“As such, TAP has entered into multiple Memoranda of Understanding and Cooperation (MoUC) with the developers of the proposed Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) as well as the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB),” he informed.
IAP is a proposed natural gas pipeline in Southeast Europe which proposes to run from Fier in Albania through Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and onto Croatia where it will split.
“Shah Deniz phase II gas is set to reach not only the Italian market, but also Greece and Bulgaria. It is important to note that the 1 billion cubic meters of Caspian gas annually due to reach Bulgaria is a substantial amount and represents approximately 40 percent of the country’s gas needs. Similarly, the same amount equals approximately one third of the current gas demand of Greece,” Bradshaw emphasized.
TAP has the potential to increase its capacity and improve energy diversity and energy security in the region, he said.
“In terms of interconnections, TAP’s landfall in Italy also provides multiple opportunities for transporting natural gas further north and west to Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Belgium, and even the U.K.,” Bradshaw concluded.
Interconnectors generally provide direct links between natural gas systems of mutual countries. The IGB pipeline will provide a direct link between the national natural gas systems of Greece and Bulgaria with a capacity of 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
“TAP has made no offers to Iran”
Bradshaw said that TAP is fully committed to transport Shah Deniz phase 2 volumes from the Caspian through Greece, Albania and into Italy.
“TAP has not made any contact or made any offers to Iranian shareholders to join the TAP project. TAP complies with all EU regulations and relevant sanctions and has always been open to companies who can add strategic value to the project,” he underlined.
After signing a nuclear deal with the world powers P5+1 group, Iranian media reported on the possibility of transporting Iranian gas to Europe through TAP.
BP, SOCAR and Statoil hold a 20 percent share each of TAP while Fluxys holds a 19 percent interest, Enagas has 16 percent and Axpo has a 5 percent share interest.
By Nuran Erkul
Anadolu Agency