Post by bato2 on Aug 9, 2009 1:22:34 GMT -5
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.
On 13 February 2008, EGL Group and the Norwegian energy company StatoilHydro 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.
As of 2009[update], the TAP project is at the front-end engineering design stage. The investment decision is expected by the end of 2009, and the pipeline is scheduled to become operational earliest in 2012.[2] According to Robert Klein, Managing Director of the TAP project, "the only remaining obstacle is a decision by Turkey to upgrade its existing pipeline network and sign up to terms and conditions for its use by third parties."[6]
Route
TAP is considered to be the shortest route in the so-called Southern Gas Corridor, linking Europe to new sources of gas in the Caspian and Middle East regions.[7] The pipeline will start in Greece near Thessaloniki, cross Albania and the Adriatic Sea and come ashore in Italy near Brindisi. The length of the offshore pipeline section will be 115 kilometres (71 mi) at a maximum depth of 820 metres (2,700 )
Technical description
The initial capacity of the pipeline will be about 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year, with the option to expand the capacity up to 20 bcm.[2] The total length of the pipeline is 520 kilometres (320 mi). The length of the offshore section will be 115 kilometres (71 mi) at a maximum depth of 820 metres (2,700 ft). Construction costs are expected to be about €1.5 billion.
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] EGL Group has conducted a 25-year deal with the National Iran Gas Export Company (NIGEC) to deliver 5.5 bcm of natural gas per year to Europe.[8] StatoilHydro sees the pipeline as a possibility to transport natural gas from the Shah Deniz gas field, in which it has a 25% stake.
www.trans-adriatic-pipeline.com/