TAP Managing Director discloses volume of gas transportation by year-end 

In January-October 2021, 4.6 bcm of natural gas was transported to Italy via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which will transport Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe, said TAP Managing Director Luca Schieppati, Report informs, referring to Italian media.

According to him, another 1 bcm of gas crossed the Greek-Turkish border and is about to arrive in Italy.

Luca Schieppati said that the volume of natural gas to be sent to Italy via this pipeline will reach 7 bcm by the end of the year: "This is less than 10% of Italy's natural gas consumption, which is slightly more than 70 bcm."

He noted that this is a contribution that could help in the current period of severe gas shortages in Europe.

TAP transports natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. The 878 km long pipeline connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy.

TAP will facilitate gas supplies to South Eastern European countries through prospective interconnectors. In particular, Bulgaria will be able to cover up to 33% of its total gas demand through TAP after the completion of the Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB). TAP's exits in Greece and Albania together with the landfall in Italy provide multiple opportunities for further transport of gas from Azerbaijan to the broader European markets.

As a key part of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP is strategically and economically important to Europe and essential in providing reliable access to a new source of natural gas. TAP plays a significant role in boosting Europe's energy security, supply diversification, as well as decarbonisation objectives.

TAP's shareholding is comprised of bp (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagás (16%), and Axpo (5%).