Luca Schieppati: TAP to be expanded by end of 2027

The transmission capacity of the Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP), which transports Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe, will be expanded by the end of 2027, TAP AG Managing Director Luca Schieppati said, Report informs.

According to Schieppati, all this will happen without laying new pipes and without the need for new works on the territory of Italy, but only with the installation of new compressors in Greece and Albania: "We are committed to the plan to expand capacity to 20 billion cubic meters to offer additional gas volumes to Europe and Italy, together with producers and operators of the Southern Gas Corridor."

Luca Schieppati said that TAP already supplies Italy with natural gas from a new source: "It covers more than 14% of the country's demand. Compared to last year, the total volume of gas transportation to Italy by TAP this year has increased by more than 60%."

The construction of the Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline, which transports Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe, was completed in October 2020. 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 bottom of the Adriatic Sea, and 8 km through the territory of Italy.

The supply of Azerbaijani gas through TAP to consumers in Italy, Greece and Bulgaria started on December 31, 2020.