Trans Adriatic Pipeline Submits Application for Inclusion in the Rete Nazionale Gas (RNG) Grid

BAAR, Switzerland, March 14ؔhe Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) has made another significant step in its progress of the TAP project and submitted its official application to the Italian Ministry of Economic Development in Italy for inclusion in the Rete Nazionale Gas (RNG) Grid. Once the request is granted, TAP will be officially registered as an interconnector to the Italian gas network with 15km of onshore pipeline in Puglia from Brindisi to Mesagne. This will accelerate TAP’s progress in Italy.
The request for inclusion in the Rete Nazionale Gas will be followed by a detailed study of the Environmental & Social Impact Assessment which will make use of the extensive stakeholder engagement program con-ducted in the Brindisi area in 2009. Once the inclusion is granted, TAP will benefit from the processing of all applications and permits in Italy by the central and local governments.
Paul Pasteris, Applications Manager, Italy said: ” This is a significant step forward for TAP in Italy and one of many steps that the organization is preparing for. The TAP team would like to thank the Ministry of Eco-nomic Development in Italy for its co-operation, support and participation in this application process and we look forward to the continued close co-operation with all the relevant authorities in Italy in making TAP a successful project”
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is a pipeline project, measuring 520km in length that will transport natural gas from the Caspian Sea and Middle East regions to Europe. The gas pipeline will start in Greece near Thessaloniki, cross Albania and the Adriatic Sea, and enter Italy near Brindisi. In Greece and Italy, TAP will tie into the existing national gas systems. The pipeline will have a gas transportation capacity of 10 BCM, expandable to 20 BCM, adding to its long-term value. TAP is a joint venture of the Swiss EGL Group and Norway’s Statoil. The project is supported by the European Union as a project of common interest under the Trans-European Energy Networks guidelines.