TAP Submits EIA to Albanian Government

The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline project (TAP) has formally submitted its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Albanian section of the proposed natural gas pipeline to the National Licensing Centre in Albania.

The ESIA aims to assess potential impacts of the pipeline project on the environment, cultural heritage and socio-economic development and to propose measures in order to avoid, reduce or mitigate negative impacts.

TAP, with a group of Albanian and international experts, developed the ESIA report in accordance with the Albanian law and in compliance with the Environmental and Social Policy of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the project headquarters said in a statement.

TAP will transport gas from Caspian region via Greece and Albania and across the Adriatic Sea to southern Italy and further to Western Europe.

The Albanian section of the TAP pipeline will start at Bilisht Qendër in Korça region at the Albanian-Greek border. The landfall for the onshore part of the Albanian section will be located in the coastal area north of Fier. The total length of the TAP’s onshore section in Albania will be about 209 km and 60 km offshore in the Albanian section of the Adriatic Sea.

TAP has already disclosed the non-technical summary and relevant information on ESIA report to the residents of 83 communities in Korça, Skrapar, Berat, and Fier regions and to Albanian NGOs. Local governments were also involved in the consultation process – TAP discussed the report with 38 councils of the affected communes and they expressed support for the project.