Azernews.Az

Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has begun engaging directly with the Trans Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) project, TAP External Affairs Director Michael Hoffmann told Trend news agency in an interview.

"We had a very constructive meeting with the TANAP team in Ankara four weeks ago. A potential interface between the two projects was the main subject of the discussions," Hoffmann said.

The purpose of this first meeting, according to Hoffmann, was to share information about the two projects, including the schedule and capacity, etc.

He also noted that the sides agreed to arrange regular meetings and to continue their engagement, which will be mainly of technical nature.

TAP project is designed to transport gas from the Caspian region via Greece and Albania and across the Adriatic Sea to southern Italy and further into western Europe.

TAP pipeline's initial capacity will be 10 billion cubic meters per year, expandable to 20 billion cubic meters. TAP's shareholders are EGL of Switzerland (42.5 percent), Norway's Statoil (42.5 percent) and E.ON Ruhrgas of Germany (15 percent).

Earlier this year the international consortium developing Azerbaijan's giant offshore Shah Deniz field made TAP a priority route for export of Azerbaijani gas to Italy.

Besides TAP, the Shah Deniz consortium currently considers another option to deliver gas to Europe -- Nabucco West.

The final decision on a pipeline route will be made in 2013.

TANAP project envisages construction of a pipeline from the eastern border of Turkey to the country's western border to supply gas from Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas field to Europe across Turkey.

In June, Azerbaijan and Turkey signed an intergovernmental agreement on the TANAP project.

80 percent in the TANAP project is held by Azerbaijani state energy company SOCAR, while Turkish state pipeline company BOTAS has a 20 per cent share.

Initial capacity of the TANAP pipeline is expected to be 16 billion cubic meters per year. The link will carry 10 billion cubic meters of gas a year to the EU from the Shah Deniz deposit, while Turkey will buy 6 billion cubic meters.