Trans Adriatic Pipeline

Trans Adriatic Pipeline
Location
Country Albania
Greece
Italy
General direction east–west
From Komotini
Passes through Albania
Adriatic Sea
To Brindisi
General information
Type natural gas
Partners EGL Group
Statoil
E.ON
Operator Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG
Technical information
Length 520 km (320 mi)
Maximum discharge 20 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year
Diameter 48 in (1,219 mm)

Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP, Albanian: Tubacioni Trans-Adriatik) is a proposed pipeline project to transport natural gas from Greece via Albania and the Adriatic Sea to Italy and further to Western Europe.

Contents

History

Trans Adriatic Pipeline project was announced in 2003 by Swiss energy company EGL Group. The feasibility study was concluded in March 2006. Two options were investigated: a northern route through Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia and Albania, and a southern route through Greece and Albania, which finally was considered to be more feasible. In March 2007, the extended basic engineering for the pipeline was completed.[1]

On 13 February 2008, EGL Group and the Norwegian energy company Statoil signed an agreement to set up Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG, a joint venture to develop, build and operate the pipeline.[2] In June 2008, the project company filed an application with the Greek authorities to build a 200 kilometres (120 mi) section of the pipeline from Thessaloniki to the Greek-Albanian border.[3] In January 2009, the TAP project carried out a marine survey in the Adriatic Sea to verify the offshore route for the future gas pipeline.[4] A route assessment survey in Albania started in July 2009.[5] In March 2009, an intergovernmental agreement between Italy and Albania on energy cooperation mentioned TAP as a project of common interest for both countries. In January 2010, TAP opened country offices in Greece, Albania and Italy.[6] In March 2010, TAP submitted an application to Italian authorities for inclusion into the Italian gas network.[7]

On 20 May 2010, it was announced that E.ON Ruhrgas becomes a partner in the project.[8] The deal was successfully closed on 7 July 2010.[9]

In March 2010, TAP submitted an application to Italian authorities for inclusion into the Italian gas network.[7] In November 2010, TAP started route refinement survey in northern Greece in preparation for the environmental impact assessment.[10] On 7 September 2011, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP AG) submitted its EU Third Party Access Exemption applications in all three host countries. Exemption will allow TAP AG to enter into long term ship-or-pay gas transportation agreements with the shippers of Shah Deniz II gas.[11][12]

Route

TAP is considered to be the shortest route in the Southern Gas Corridor, linking Europe to new sources of gas in the Caspian and Middle East regions.[13] The pipeline will start in Greece near Komotini, cross Albania and the Adriatic Sea and come ashore in Italy near Brindisi. The length of Greece section will be 465 kilometres (289 mi).[12] The length of the offshore pipeline section will be 115 kilometres (71 mi) at a maximum depth of 820 metres (2,690 ft).[2]

Technical description

The initial capacity of the pipeline will be about 10 billion cubic metres (350 billion cubic feet) of natural gas per year, with the option to expand the capacity up to 20 billion cubic metres (710 billion cubic feet).[2] The total length of the pipeline is 520 kilometres (320 mi) and the length of the offshore section is 115 kilometres (71 mi). TAP also plans to develop an underground natural gas storage facility in Albania and offer a reverse flow possibility of up to 8.5 billion cubic metres (300 billion cubic feet). These features will ensure additional energy security for the Southeastern Europe.[14][15] Total construction costs are expected to be about €1.5 billion.[2] TAP is ready to commence pipeline operations in time for first gas exports from Shah Deniz II (expected in 2017–2018).[11][16]

Supply sources

The pipeline would be supplied by natural gas from the Caspian region and the Middle East through the existing and planned gas transportation networks in Turkey.[1] The source of supply for initial capacity of 10 billion cubic metres (350 billion cubic feet) per year will come from the second stage of development of the Shah Deniz natural gas field in Azerbaijan.[17] Shah Deniz consortium plans to start bilateral negotiations with potential buyers of gas and not a tender process. Three pipeline projects have been prequalified for the negotiations.[18] Statoil, which owns a 25.5% stake in the consortium developing Shah Deniz, sees the Trans Adriatic Pipeline as a possibility to transport natural gas from Shah Deniz.[2]

Turkey and Azerbaijan's natural-gas trade agreement, signed on 7 June 2010, is believed to give a boost to the further development of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline as well as to all other projects in the Southern Gas Corridor.[19] The deal sets the terms for the transit of Azerbaijani gas to European countries.[20]

Project company

Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG is a joint venture company registered in Baar, canton Zug, Switzerland, with a purpose of planning, developing and building the TAP pipeline. [21] Managing Director of the project is Kjetil Tungland.[22]

Shareholders of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline are:

Alternative projects

The project competes with the Greece-Italy pipeline project, developed by DEPA and Edison S.p.A., with Nabucco pipeline project, and with South Stream project announced by Eni and Gazprom. The consortium has announced that they "are open towards ITGI to discuss mutual ways of improving the respective projects."[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Natural gas pipeline through Adriatic achieves major milestone". EGL. 2007-03-13. http://www.egl.eu/eglch/en/home/media/news/archive/2007/2007_03_13.html. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
  2. ^ a b c d e "StatoilHydro takes place at TAP table". Upstream Online (NHST Media Group). 2008-02-13. (subscription required). http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article148654.ece. Retrieved 2008-02-16. 
  3. ^ "TAP lays groundwork in Greece". Upstream Online (NHST Media Group). 2008-06-19. (subscription required). http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article157399.ece. Retrieved 2008-08-18. 
  4. ^ "Marine survey in the Adriatic Sea to verify offshore route of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline" (Press release). Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG. 2009-01-22. http://www.trans-adriatic-pipeline.com/press-releases/marine-survey-in-the-adriatic-sea-to-verify-offshore-route-for-the-trans-adriatic-pipeline-2_.html. Retrieved 2009-06-16. 
  5. ^ "Route assessment survey begins in Albania for Trans Adriatic Pipeline". Balkans.com Business News. 2009-07-13. http://www.balkans.com/open-news.php?uniquenumber=11360513. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
  6. ^ "Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline Co. Opens Offices in Albania, Italy, Greece". SeeNews. 2010-01-20. http://www.seenews.com/news/latestnews/trans-adriaticpipelineopensofficesinalbania_italy_greece-115448/. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
  7. ^ a b "Trans Adriatic Pipeline taps into Italy's gas grid". Pipelines International. 2010-03-17. http://www.pipelineinternational.net/news/trans_adriatic_pipeline_taps_into_italys_gas_grid/034550/. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
  8. ^ a b "E.ON Ruhrgas joins Trans Adriatic Pipeline". Oil and Gas Journal (PennWell Corporation). 2010-05-21. (subscription required). http://www.ogj.com/index/article-display/6312478879/articles/oil-gas-journal/transportation-2/pipelines/2010/05/e_on-ruhrgas_joins/QP129867/cmpid=EnlPipelineMay242010.html. Retrieved 2010-05-25. 
  9. ^ a b "E.ON firms TAP stake". Upstream Online (NHST Media Group). 2010-07-07. (subscription required). http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article220437.ece. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
  10. ^ "Trans-Adriatic Pipeline begins route refinement study in northern Greece". European Energy Review. 2010-11-23. http://www.europeanenergyreview.eu/index.php?id=2556&zoek=trans%20adriatic. Retrieved 2010-12-01. 
  11. ^ a b "Trans Adriatic Pipeline submits Third Party Access Exemptions in Albania, Greece & Italy". Energia.gr. Greece. 2011-09-13. http://www.energia.gr/article_en.asp?art_id=24869. Retrieved 2011-09-13. 
  12. ^ a b "Trans Adriatic Pipeline submits Independent Natural Gas application to Greek regulator". Offshore Magazine (PennWell Corporation). 2011-09-15. http://www.offshore-mag.com/index/article-display/9075717750/articles/offshore/pipeline-transportation/north-sea-northwest-europe/2011/september/trans-adriatic_pipeline0.html. Retrieved 2011-09-16. 
  13. ^ "Azerbaijan's potential gas supply routes". Reuters Factbox. 2009-05-17. http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idAFL457697120090605?rpc=44&sp=true. Retrieved 2009-06-17. 
  14. ^ "Europe's southern gas corridor: The great pipeline race". EurActiv. 2010-10-11. http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/europes-southern-gas-corridor-great-pipeline-race-linksdossier-498558. Retrieved 2010-12-01. 
  15. ^ Grgic, Borut (2010-05-11). "Getting natural gas to the Balkans". Hurriyet Daily News. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=getting-natural-gas-to-the-balkans-2010-11-05. Retrieved 2010-12-01. 
  16. ^ "Turkey, Azerbaijan sign long-awaited gas deal". News.az. Azerbaijan. 2010-06-07. http://www.news.az/articles/17040. Retrieved 2010-07-15. 
  17. ^ "Adriatic pipeline to tap into Azeri gas". EurActiv. 2010-09-15. http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/adriatic-pipeline-tap-azeri-gas-news-497811. Retrieved 2010-09-15. 
  18. ^ "Talks, not tender to sell Shah Deniz gas". News.az. 2010-08-05. http://www.news.az/articles/economy/20420. Retrieved 2010-09-15. 
  19. ^ Ersoy, Ercan; Bierman, Stephen (2010-06-07). "Turkish, Azeri gas accord may boost Caspian investments". Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-07/turkish-azeri-gas-accord-may-boost-caspian-investments-europe-exports.html. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
  20. ^ "Turkish-Azerbaijan deal welcomed". News.az. Azerbaijan. 2010-06-08. http://www.news.az/articles/17073. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
  21. ^ "Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG, Baar" (in German). itonex ag. http://www.moneyhouse.ch/u/trans_adriatic_pipeline_ag_CH-170.3.030.511-2.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-12. 
  22. ^ "Pipeline director: Gas race will have a winner in April". EurActiv. 2010-11-23. http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/pipeline-director-gas-race-will-have-a-winner-april-interview-499970. Retrieved 2010-01-12. 
  23. ^ "TAP ready to join forces with ITGI". Upstream Online (NHST Media Group). 2010-06-30. (subscription required). http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article219105.ece. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 

External links