Katerina Papalexandri: Greece to become energy hub thanks to TAP

"Greece will become an energy hub thanks to Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which will transport Azerbaijani gas to Europe," TAP’s Country Manager for Greece Katerina Papalexandri said at Southeast Europe Energy Forum held in Thessaloniki, Greece, Report informs citing TAP consortium.

According to her, the pipeline led to spread in entrepreneurship, new jobs and economic growth in the country.

Notably, at the initial stage, the TAP pipeline which is part of the Southern gas corridor project is to supply 10 bn cubic meters of gas extracted as part of Shahdeniz-2 to Europe annually. In the territory of Kipoi at the Turkish-Greek border, the pipeline will be connected to the Trans-Adriatic pipeline (TANAP) and will pass via Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea shelf to Southern Italy.

Shahdeniz consortium on June 28, 2013, officially announced the selection of the TAP pipeline. The pipeline extends to 878 km with 550 km passing via Greece, 215 km via Albania, 105 km via the Adriatic Sea self, 8 km through Southern Italy. The pipeline peak will be in Albanian mountains (1,800 m) and the lowest point on the sea shelf (-820 m).

The groundbreaking ceremony for TAP was held on May 17, 2016, in the Greek Thessaloniki. The first supplies of Azerbaijani gas to Europe were planned in early 2020.

TAP will meet 33% demand of Bulgaria for gas, 20% of Georgia and 10.5% of Italy.