rans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) invites companies to pre-qualify for the construction of the Pipeline Receiving Terminal (PRT) and the installation of onshore pipeline in Italy.

It is intended that the scope of work will cover two lots:

- The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of the PRT and
- The EPC of an approximately 8-kilometre long, 36-inch diameter high-pressure pipeline, running from the first dry weld at the landfall in Italy to the scraper trap located in the PRT.

The PRT will receive natural gas from the pipeline offshore section and host the supervisory and control centre of TAP. The PRT will be integrated into the surrounding landscape and have limited visual impact on the area. The facility will connect to the Snam Rete Gas network.

Specific details of the contract notice can be found in the Supplement of Official Journal of the EU – Tenders Electronic Daily (TED): link.

The deadline for companies to request the pre-qualification questionnaire is 07.04.2015. Following the selection stage, TAP aims to issue the related Invitations to Tender (ITT) for onshore construction in Italy by 22.04.2015.

Knut Steinar Kvindesland, Procurement Director at TAP said: “With the launch of this pre-qualification notice, TAP is now in the market to secure EPC services for building the pipeline all the way from Kipoi, Greece, through to southern Italy. Our selection process remains transparent, rigorous and with particular an emphasis on meeting Health, Safety and Environment standards as well as a proven commitment to TAP’s zero harm policy.”

About the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)

TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe. The approximately 870 km long pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.

TAP’s routing can facilitate gas supply to several South Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and others. TAP’s landfall in Italy provides multiple opportunities for further transport of Caspian natural gas to some of the largest European markets such as Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland and Austria.

TAP will promote the economic development and job creation along the pipeline route; it will be a major source of foreign direct investment and it is not dependent on grants or subsidies. With first gas sales to Georgia and Turkey targeted for late 2018, first deliveries to Europe will follow approximately a year later.

TAP’s shareholding is comprised of BP (20%), SOCAR (20%), Statoil (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagás (16%) and Axpo (5%).