Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy gave formal approval to the amended Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) submitted by Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) for the Greek section of the pipeline in December 2014.

The Amendment to TAP’s ESIA in Greece includes a number of changes introduced to the pipeline route and the design of permanent and temporary installations compared to the project status in June 2013 (ESIA submission date). The changes are largely the result of feedback received from the affected communities during TAP’s extensive Stakeholder Engagement process. Additionally, as the project advanced, the TAP team has also made several improvements to the pipeline route, aiming both to optimise the route itself as well as to keep environmental impact to a minimum.

TAP’s Amended ESIA report is in full accordance with both Greek and EU legislation and follows the international requirements of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

About the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)

TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe. The 878 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 in early 2020.

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