TAP Starts Construction of Pipeline Section in Albania

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) AG today marked the start of pipeline construction in Albania.

The occasion was marked by an inauguration ceremony near the town of Fier, attended by the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, Minister of Energy and Industry, Damian Gjiknuri, and TAP Managing Director, Ian Bradshaw.

Speaking to an audience that included representatives of the local authorities and other key stakeholders, Prime Minister Rama and Energy Minister Gjiknuri emphasized the importance of the project to Albania. As one of the largest foreign investments in the country, TAP will have a positive impact on the country's energy sector and will help encourage other foreign investments, they said.

TAP Managing Director Ian Bradshaw said: "I am delighted to be standing here today. TAP has made huge progress over these last few years and the evidence is what you see here today: steel pipes on the ground, heavy machinery in the background, right of way being cleared and trenches dug waiting for pipe to be laid. All this, with many hundreds of thousands of safe hours worked.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Albanian Government, in particular the Ministry of Energy and Industry for its unwavering support of our project and our strong cooperation, which has led to TAP's realization and delivery of this project."

TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe. The pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.

TAP's routing can facilitate gas supply to several South Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and others. TAP's landfall in Italy provides multiple opportunities for further transport of Caspian natural gas to some of the largest European markets such as Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland and Austria.

TAP will promote the economic development and job creation along the pipeline route; it will be a major source of foreign direct investment and it is not dependent on grants or subsidies. With first gas sales to Georgia and Turkey targeted for late 2018, first deliveries to Europe will follow approximately in early 2020.

TAP's shareholding is comprised of BP (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam S.p.A. (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagás (16%) and Axpo (5%).

The total length of TAP is 878 km, of which 550 km passes through the northern part of Greece, 215 km - through Albania, 105 km - through the Adriatic Sea and 8 km away - via Italy.

Laying the foundation of the Trans-Adriatic pipeline took place in Greece May 17, 2016. -12D--