September 16 (SeeNews) - The consortium implementing the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) gas transmission project said on Thursday it has transported 5 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe since it began operations in late December.
TAP transported the Azeri gas via the interconnection point of Kipoi, at the Greek-Turkish border, where the pipeline connects to the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), TAP said in a press release.
"In addition to enabling energy security and diversification across multiple markets, the gas volumes delivered via TAP support the energy transition, especially in South Eastern Europe. Moreover, as per our long-term vision, TAP will continue to pursue opportunities to transport carbon neutral energy sources, such as hydrogen, reducing emissions, in line with European Union energy transition objectives," Luca Schieppati, TAP managing director, said in the press release.
TAP has the capacity to transport approximately 10 bcm of gas per year to European markets. It is designed with the potential to double its capacity.
The consortium implementing the TAP project earlier this year launched a binding phase of its market test for expansion of the pipeline's capacity. TAP is looking to expand its capacity by up to 20 bcm per annum (bcm/a) and no less than 14.4 bcm/a, Marija Savova, TAP head of commercial, said at the time.
Connecting with TANAP at Greece's border with Turkey, TAP stretches across northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before reaching Italy's coast. TAP, which carries natural gas from the Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea to markets in Europe, is part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which also comprises the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) crossing Azerbaijan and Georgia, and TANAP.
The shareholders of TAP are BP, Azerbaijan’s state company Socar and Italy’s SNAM with 20% each, Belgium’s Fluxys with 19%, Spain’s Enagas with 16% and Swiss-based Axpo with 5%.