Offshore staff
BAAR, Switzerland -- Major decisions are imminent that could determine the future of the proposed Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) across southern Europe.
According to Managing Director Kjetil Tungland, the partners (Statoil, E.ON Ruhrgas, and EGL) expect to hear in April which companies have been successful in procuring gas from the Shah Deniz II consortium offshore Azerbaijan.
This will lead to a decision on which transportation solution is adopted in the Southern Gas Corridor to bring Caspian gas to European markets.
Tungland claimed that TAP provided the advantages of being technically viable, safe, and offering the most commercially attractive transportation route for shippers. It would also involve the shortest new-build pipeline and “the most cost-effective route for delivering Shah Deniz II gas into Europe”.
”Our project enjoys the support of the European Union and is regarded as integral to the EU’s energy policy,” he added. “TAP has several features that enhance Europe’s energy security. These include the possibility to physically reverse gas flow in the event of an emergency, develop storage opportunities in Albania, and a commitment to include several tie-in points along the pipeline for other spur lines into South Eastern Europe.
“Furthermore, TAP is a large pipeline with a capacity of 20 bcm (706 bcf). It is designed to effectively transport the 10 bcm (353 bcf) of Shah Deniz II gas from Azerbaijan during the first phase, while accommodating additional supplies as they come onstream.”
During 2010, TAP established offices in Greece, Albania and Italy, and continued dialogue with these countries’ governments, and with senior representatives of the EU.
02/01/2011
