Murad Heydarov: Preliminary research for hydrogen transport via TAP to end by end of year - EXCLUSIVE

"Currently, work is underway to transport hydrogen via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)," Murad Heydarov, a member of the Board of Directors of the TAP consortium, told Report.

According to him, preliminary investigations are started: "Of course, we are not talking about the complete conversion of TAP to hydrogen. Here we are talking about the transportation of hydrogen mixture."

Heydarov said that there are many uncertainties in this issue as well: "Leading transport companies are currently investigating this."

He declined to comment on the percentage of hydrogen carried through the TAP pipeline:

"Sometimes the press writes that it is possible to transport 20% of the hydrogen mixture by the pipelines without any additional investment. Leading European transport companies are cautious in their forecasts, saying that these volumes will be around 2%. For the time being, no one has accurate information about this, and researches are continuing."

Heydarov noted that there are many complex problems in this issue: "There are technological, operational, commercial, and procedural factors. Like the other founders of the pipeline, TAP is also investigating it separately, and the results of the preliminary study will be known by the end of the year."

TAP transports natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. The 878 km long pipeline connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy.

TAP will facilitate gas supplies to South Eastern European countries through prospective interconnectors. In particular, Bulgaria will cover up to 33% of its total gas demand through TAP after the completion of the Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB). TAP's exits in Greece and Albania together with the landfall in Italy provide multiple opportunities for further transport of gas from Azerbaijan to the broader European markets.

As a key part of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP is strategically and economically important to Europe and essential in providing reliable access to a new source of natural gas. TAP plays a significant role in boosting Europe's energy security, supply diversification, as well as decarbonization objectives.