Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras inaugurated the start of construction for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece on Tuesday. Praising the project, Tsipras said that the construction of the TAP is being carried out in the important moment for economy of Greece and the region” and that “the project has geostrategic and economic importance.”
Official representatives of the European Union and U.S. State Department as well as high ranking officials from Greece, Turkey, Albania, Italy and Bulgaria, a total of more than 300 high-level guests attended the festive inauguration ceremony of the TAP pipeline that will transport 10 bcm of gas per year to Europe.
TAP will transport Azerbaijani gas from Shah Deniz-2, extracted in the Azeri sector of the Caspian, to western Europe through Greece and Albania. It is part of the Southern Gas Corridor, one of the most complex gas value chains ever developed stretching over 2,174 miles. The first delivery of Azerbaijani gas is scheduled for early 2020.
The TAP represents the biggest foreign investment that has ever taken place in Greece. The shareholders of the project are: Socar (20 percent), BP (20 percent), Snam (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
This project opens broad opportunities for transportation of Azerbaijani gas to such European markets as Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland and Austria. It also will help Europe diversify its sources of natural gas. Currently Russia is the major gas supplier for the continent. (more on cnbc)
The pipeline route – More company info here
The construction of the pipeline will help debt-ridden Greece and create 8,000 jobs, while 150 Greek companies will be involved as contractors, subcontractors or track support, as well as to revive the Greek pipes construction industry.
The first construction sites are expected to open already in upcoming June.
Economy Minister Giortgos Stathakis said that the TAP renders northern Greece an energy hub.
PS I hope that the project will indeed progress and conclude because we have seen many projects vanishing in the air in recent years…
Austria? No way, their new chancellor didn’t rule out to work together with the fpo-nazis and he also said that he would take Trainose but only if he get paid for; also no more goods from Piraeus to Austria.
Any relation to the visa free travel deal with Turkey?
???
Does anyone care about the potential for environmental damage of the TAP? I know it was passed by the environment ministry but Greek environmental studies frequently misrepresent the dangers to wildlife. (Northern Greece is truly remarkable for its wildlife, especially bird life, and its flowers.) As an example, I live on Samos. They wanted to create a bypass road which caused immense havoc to the surrounding area. In their environmental assessment of the area, the report (which I read) stated that the local wildlife consisted of foxes and magpies. This was a lie–Samos has neither. We do however have golden jackals (a protected species also found in the north of Greece in areas where TAP will go) and jays (not protected but not magpies either). This example may give you some idea why I would distrust any government-sponsored environmental assessment of TAP. Whether it is good for the economy or not, I believe TAP will be an ecological disaster. And once we have sacrificed our environment, we will not get it back, whereas we can recover economically in other ways. Does anybody care about Greece’s unique and wonderful environment? The Italians are protesting like mad against TAP. What are we doing? Does anyone know?
on inaugaurat day minister Skourletis ( i think) said the project is designed to take into consideration environment protection etc. SYRIZa + ANEL were opposing SKouries project also for environm reasons. Now they are in government, they should logically keep same line regarding the TAP.
But Skouries is working again, isn’t it? I do not believe this government gives a damn about the environment. See today”s article in ekathimerini “Environment Group WWF Slams Changes to Forest Maps” as an example. How many trees willl be vut down for TAP? Also, think how many farmers are losing land to this project; you know they won’t get fair compensation.