Azernews.Az

By Trend

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project in Italy is being implemented according to schedule, Augusto Massari, Italian ambassador to Azerbaijan, told reporters in Baku on September 7.

The main goal is to complete the work and launch the pipeline by 2020, Massari said.

Touching upon the issue of cutting down olive trees on the territory through which the pipeline will pass, Massari noted that all disagreements have already been resolved.

Trees have been dug up with roots, and once the pipeline is laid, the trees will be re-planted, the ambassador noted.

TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union. The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.

The pipeline will connect to the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy’s south.

TAP will be 878 kilometers in length (Greece 550 kilometers, Albania 215 kilometers, Adriatic Sea 105 kilometers, and Italy 8 kilometers).

TAP’s shareholding is comprised of BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagás (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz