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The physical construction of the TAP pipeline connection with the TAP Interconnection section is expected to start in February-March 2019. This information is announced by the Italian company SNAM, one of the project's shareholders.
TAP Interconnection is the pipeline (extends for about 55 km) from TAP PRT (Melendugno) to the existing Snam Rete Gas network in Brindisi / Mesagne and passes through the Communes of Melendugno, Vernole, Castrì, Lizzanello, Lece, Surbo, Torchiarolo, San Pietro Vernotico, Brindisi.A few days ago, it was announced that the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which foresees the transport of Azerbaijan gas to Europe, will be put into operation by 2020. This was reported by the Italian media citing the Proposal for an Integrated National Plan for Energy and Climate (PNIEC) sent by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development to the European Commission.
"TAP, which will allow the import of about 8.8 billion cubic meters of gas a year in Italy, with the possibility of extending to 10 billion cubic meters per year, will be put into operation by 2020," is said in the National Plan published on the website of the Italian Ministry.
The TAP project, worth of 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisions gas transportation from Shah Deniz Azerbaijan's Stage in EU countries.
Connecting to the Trans-Anatolian pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming to Italy's south coast to connect to the Italian natural gas network.
The project is currently under the construction phase, which began in 2016.
Once constructed, TAP will provide a direct and cost-effective transport route by opening the vital South Sea Corridor, a 3,000-kilometer-long gas range extending from the Caspian Sea to Europe.
TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagás (16 percent), and Axpo (5 percent).