80 km of TAP pipes welded

Baku. 26 November. REPORT.AZ/ 80 km of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), to transport Azerbaijani gas to Europe, has been welded.

Report informs, on Friday 25 November, TAP Managing Director Ian Bradshaw told the delegation headed by the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visiting the project’s works currently underway in Alexandroupoli.

It was stated that starting from the day of laying the foundation, 110 km pipes have been laid on route of the pipeline. 190 km of roads have been cleaned.

Notably, TAP, which is a part of Southern Gas Corridor project, will transport the gas produced within 'Shah Deniz 2' project, to Europe. This pipeline will join TANAP (Trans Anatolian) pipeline in Kipoi territory on Turkey-Greece border and cross Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before going onshore in southern Italy.

After reviewing various selection options during two years, on June 28, 2013, 'Shah Deniz' Consortium has officially declared selection of the project on TAP project. The pipeline is 878 kilometers long, which 550 km will cover Greece, 215 Albania, 105 Adriatic Sea and 8 km Southern Italy. Highest point of the pipeline will be in the mountains of Albania (1 800 meters), the lower part (-820 meters) beneath the sea. In the first stage, 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas will be delivered to Europe via the pipeline. TAP's groundbreaking ceremony was held in Thessaloniki, Greece on May 17 this year.

BP (20%),SOCAR (20%), 'Snam S.p.A.' (20%), 'Fluxys' (19%), 'Enagas' (16%) and 'Axpo' (5%) companies acting as TAP shareholders.