Trans Adriatic Pipeline enters operational phase

As of this week, natural gas can flow from Azerbaijan to the EU thanks to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). TAP, key part of the Southern Gas Corridor, will transport 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year to Greece, Albania and Italy, increasing the security and diversification of natural gas supplies to Europe.

TAP received support from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) via two grants. The first grant (€14 million) was awarded in 2016 to carry out archaeological trial trench investigations in several Greek regions in order to determine the presence of buried archaeological remains and to carry out rescue excavation activities to preserve these remains. Additional €0.24 million were granted for the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for the construction of the metering and regulating station at Nea Messimvria (Greece). This station is one of the two metering and regulating stations enabling the flow of gas from TAP to the Greek National Natural Gas System (NNGS).

About TAP

TAP transports natural gas from the Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz II Caspian Sea gas fields to Europe. The 878 km long pipeline connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before reaching Southern Italy.

The construction of the pipeline received fast-track priority status as an EU Project of Common Interest (PCI 7.1.3) four times since 2013 for its role in developing the Southern Gas Corridor, meant to diversify gas imports. Works started in 2016 and the infrastructure is now fully completed and operational.