Governments Sign Up for TAP

The governments of Greece, Italy and Albania Wednesday verified their commitment  to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project by signing a tri-lateral intergovernmental agreement (IGA).

The pipeline project, to transport gas from the Caspian region across the Adriatic to southern Italy and ultimately western Europe, announced the signing on its website.

The IGA was concluded at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens. It pins down key commitments by Greece, Italy and Albania to the forward development, construction and operation of the TAP pipeline. 

TAP is one of the pipeline projects being developed to transport Shah Deniz gas to Europe and is the only pipeline option that will cross Greece. The Shah Deniz Consortium will make their final selection of the Southern Gas Corridor project to transport Shah Deniz gas by June 2013.

Kjetil Tungland, TAP’s managing director, said: “I would like to thank all the governments for their support and dedication resulting in the signing of this important agreement today. This agreement between TAP's host countries lays the strong foundation and long term security that is required to move the project forward towards selection and construction."