TAP issues ITTs for compressor stations
By Aynur Jafarova
Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) has issued two separate Invitations to Tender (ITT) for compressor stations in Greece and Albania.
“In Greece, the ITT will cover the provision of engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of one compressor station at Kipoi. TAP said on November 26. “In Albania, the ITT is for the provision of engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of one compressor station at Fier, and one metering station at Billisht. The metering station is designed to measure natural gas coming from the Greek section of TAP.”
Design and specification for the compressor stations is in line
with TAP’s initial capacity of 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) per
annum – gas transported from the second stage of development of
Azerbaijan’s giant Shah Deniz field to Europe – with a possibility
to expand that capacity up to 20 bcm per annum.
“The selection of bidders who have been invited to tender for
compressor stations has successfully passed a rigorous
prequalification process. The bidders’ ability to meet TAP’s high
standards on Health, Safety and Environment and their ability to
demonstrate a zero harm policy have and will be key in selecting
bidders.” Knut Steinar Kvindesland, Procurement Director at TAP
said.
TAP plans to award the contracts for compressor stations in the second half of 2015. The next ITT that will be issued by TAP are for the procurement of turbo compressor units for the compressor stations in Greece and Albania, and for the procurement of large diameter ball valves for Greece, Albania and Italy.
TAP plans to issue these ITTs within the fourth quarter of 2014.
The Shah Deniz consortium announced the selection of TAP as the main route for transporting its gas to Europe in late June. The initial capacity of TAP will amount to 10 billion cubic meters per annum with the possibility of expanding to 20 billion cubic meters per annum. The TAP's construction project is planned to start in 2015.
The gas which will be produced at the second stage of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field development will be the main source of the Southern Gas Corridor, which envisages the transportation of the Caspian gas to European markets.
The Shah Deniz field, one of the world's largest gas-condensate fields, was discovered in 1999. Its reserves are estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas. Overall, the field has proven to be a secure and reliable supplier of gas to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and Europe.
Azerbaijan agreed to sell over 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year from the second phase of its Shah Deniz development to nine companies in the European Union in September 2013.