TIRANA, Jan. 17 – The offshore construction of the submarine section of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) in Italy is set to begin soon, as the Castoro Sei, the Saipem ship that will lay the section, is on its way to the port of Brindisi. The procedure will begin within 10 days after completing the loading process of the sections of the pipeline on the Castoro Sei and once the work at the exit point of the microtunnel leading to the sea is completed. Before laying the pipeline, the safety measures for bio-constructions in the gas corridor will also be completed in accordance with the plan approved by the competent authorities.
The ship will carry out the construction of the pipeline, from the reception on board of the individual pipes and their automated welding, to its installation on the seabed. The Castoro Sei will continue the installation of the segment extending 105 kilometers towards Albania, where it is expected to arrive after about two months, reaching a maximum depth of 820 meters.
The first offshore section of the pipeline in Albania was successfully connected to the land segment in March 2019. According to statements previously given by the TAP Manager for Albania, Malfor Nuri, during the summer of 2019, works on the offshore section were discontinued to avoid disturbance of tourists during the peak season, but it was resumed in the fall.
TAP will cross northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in southern Italy to be connected to the Italian natural gas network. The project is currently in its construction phase, which began in 2016. As of November 2019, TAP reports that 90. 7 percent of the project has been completed.
The road that passes through TAP could facilitate the gas supply of some Southeast European countries. TAP’s establishment in Italy offers numerous opportunities for further shipment of Caspian natural gas to some of the largest European markets.
