Greek section of TAP pipeline to be completed in November

“The construction of the Greek section of the TAP gas pipeline, 550 km long, from the Evros Gardens to the Greek-Albanian border, in Kristalopigi, Kastoria, will be completed in November 2018,”.

Report informs citing the Greek media project director for Greece, Katerina Papalexandri, said during a briefing on the progress of the works in Kastoria.

“Tests will be carried out by mid-2019, when hydrocarbon introduction will begin and in 2020 the project will be ready for commercial operation,” she added.

The pipeline will initially transport 10 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz reservoir to Europe, with a 20-billion-cubic capacity doubling prospective, and will be linked to three points (in Pella, Kastoria and Kozani) with the Greek gas system.

The consortium Shah Deniz on June 28, 2013 officially announced the selection of the pipeline TAP. The length of the pipeline is 878 km, of which 550 km will pass through the territory of Greece, 215 km – Albania, 105 km – the bottom of the Adriatic Sea, and 8 km – Southern Italy. The highest point of the pipeline will be located in the mountains of Albania (1,800 m), and the lowest – at the bottom of the sea (-820 m).

The TAP laying ceremony took place on May 17, 2016 in Greek Thessaloniki. The first deliveries of Azerbaijani gas to Europe are planned in early 2020.

BP, SOCAR and Snam S.p.A. control 20% of TAP shares, Fluxys – 19%, Enagas – 16% and Axpo – 5%.