BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 8. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) could double its current capacity in incremental steps to further support Europe’s security of energy supplies, TAP Managing Director Luca Schieppati said in an interview with Azernews, Trend reports.
“Doubling the capacity of TAP is something that has been designed at the project conception phase. More specifically, TAP’s current capacity can reach slightly over 20 bcm per year. TAP’s expansion capacity is offered to the market through regular market tests in an open, transparent, and non-discriminatory way. Thus, TAP offers the opportunity to any interested party to submit their binding bids for long-term incremental capacity in the infrastructure,” he said.
Schieppati pointed out that the 2021 TAP Market test is currently in progress.
“TAP, together with SRG and DESFA, held a public consultation on the draft project proposal for the 2021 market test between January 18 and March 18, 2022. Following feedback received during the public consultation and the recent gas market developments, TAP, SRG and DESFA recently announced that they intend to propose a first binding phase in November 2022 and, eventually, a second binding phase in 2023, to complete the allocation of all the offer levels. If market demand is there in the form of firm commitments from shippers, that are sufficient to make the expansion economically feasible, TAP can double its capacity by installing additional compressors to accommodate these volumes,” TAP managing director explained.
As the European section of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP has the capacity to transport approximately 10 billion cubic meters of gas per annum (bcm/a) to several markets in Europe. The pipeline is also designed with the potential to expand its throughput capacity up to 20 bcm/a.
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 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagás (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).