TAP starts land easement and acquisition

TIRANA, Sept. 17 – The Trans Adriatic Pipeline says it has hired Netherlands-based Royal Haskoning DHV for its land easement and acquisition activities for the 870-km long project bringing Caspian gas to Europe through Albania, Greece and Italy. TAP has authorized its contractors to start surveys for collecting detailed information on the landowners living along the pipeline corridor to complement the existing cadastral data. The goal is to identify rightful landowners, establish property boundaries and evaluate the affected properties. TAP’s LEA process is based on acquiring access rights to land, in order to establish access for the pipeline.
TAP will require temporary access to land for the construction strip where the pipeline will be buried and permanent access to land for installations such as compressor stations, block valve stations, etc. Following construction, TAP will also require land easements for the pipeline corridor and safety zones.
In 2014 TAP plans to enter into agreements with landowners regulating how the access to land can be granted. Royal HaskoningDHV will be contacting all affected landowners in the next months; it will mobilise a team of 200 staff members to carry out LEA activities in Greece, Albania and Italy.
Albert Haak, TAP’s Land Easement and Acquisition Manager, said: “TAP’s LEA activities will be conducted in a very transparent manner and in accordance to the highest international standards. TAP is committed to an open dialogue and building trustful and lasting relationships with the communities living along the future pipeline route.”
Sjacco de Vos, Senior Project Manager for Royal HaskoningDHV, said: “Our goal is to ensure that access to land is secured and TAP can begin the pipeline construction on schedule, and also to ensure that people affected by the project are properly compensated according to the EBRD standards.”
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) near the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.
A study conducted by the prestigious Oxford University has demonstrated the substantial potential economic benefits for Albania by the landmark pipeline. Findings by Oxford Economics study show that during its four years of construction (2015-18), inclusive of direct, indirect and induced effects, TAP will contribute a total of Euro 370 million to Albanian GDP, create, on average, 9,900 jobs per year and generate Euro 90 million for the Albanian treasury.
In addition, during its expected 50 years of operation, inclusive of direct, indirect and induced impacts, the project is predicted to contribute a total of Euro 780 million to Albanian GDP, create 460 jobs per year, and generate Euro 470 million in tax revenues.