The Albanian government intends to renegotiate the contract for laying a section of the TRANS Adriatic pipeline (Trans Adriatic Pipeline — TAP), which will be held across the country. Prime Minister EDI Rama explained that he would like to bring the Treaty in line with the advantages that you receive from the pipeline, the neighbors of Albania.
The head of the Cabinet of Ministers called the TAP “one of the main factors of economic and social development of Albania”, as this pipeline will bring the country a truly “countless” direct and indirect benefits. However EDI Rama believes that even with all the positive effects of the TAP on the Albanian economy, the country can count for more.
The Prime Minister, he said, sees no reason for Greece or other transit countries used preferences than Albania. The TAP consortium has expressed willingness to negotiate improved contract terms, said EDI Rama.
Official press representative of the consortium Liza Divert confirmed to Natural Gas Europe that the government of Albania under discussion, but declined to reveal details discussed.
At the moment the first, preparatory, phase strip TAP in Albania has been completed by over 50%. Full swing construction of access roads and bridges. As expected, the training phase will be completed in the current year.
The Albanian part of the pipeline is 215 kilometers by land and 37 kilometres along the seabed towards the Italian coast of the Adriatic. On this site will be laid about 13 thousand large diameter pipe that will put the German company Salzgitter Mannesmann International. The first pipes arrived in Albania on 5 April.
The TAP pipeline length of 871 kilometers is part of the southern gas corridor. It has to go through Greece, Albania, Adriatic sea and Italy. The maximum throughput of a highway — 10 billion cubic meters per year.
Shareholders of a consortium of TAR at the moment are British BP (20%), Azerbaijani SOCAR (20%), Italian Snam (20%), Belgian Fluxys (19%), Spanish Enagas (16%) and Swiss energy holding company Axpo (5%).
To build the entire transport system that will connect the Shah-Deniz with Western Europe and also includes the TRANS-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP), the participants of the project “southern gas corridor” plan by 2019.
