The preferred route avoids densely populated areas and a protected natural reserve at Hotova National Park
TIRANA, Feb. 17 – Trying to balance environmental and safety concerns, the builders of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline said this week they have found the best route through Albania once the pipeline enters the Permet region through Greece.
“The preferred route avoids densely populated areas and a protected natural reserve at Hotova National Park,” according to a statement by TAP, a joint-venture of the Swiss EGL Group and Norway’s Statoil.
The route assessment survey was conducted throughout the course of 2009 by TAP’s environmental and technical teams and supported by international experts, who assessed the environmental, social and technical impact of various pipeline route alternatives in Albania and Italy.
“The selection of the optimum routing involved comprehensive consultations with stakeholders, including national and local authorities, local media and residents who live in the area,” the company said.
The final pipeline route proposed by TAP will be presented to all stakeholders in Italy and Albania during the next few months. Next steps will include further fine tuning of the route and preparation of the detailed environmental and social impact assessments in accordance with EU legislation and international best practice.
“Our team has spent many months investigating the optimum route, that will have the least environmental, social and technical impact. Now we have a solid base from which to start our detailed Environmental and Social Impact assessment process later this year,” said Christian Falck, TAP technical director.
A few days earlier TAP had held a series of important meetings with the Albanian government shortly after the establishment of its branch offices in Albania.
These included briefings with the Albanian minister and deputy minister of Environment, Forest and Water Administration and representatives from the Albanian prime minister’s office.
“During what I can only describe as very constructive talks, the ministry complimented TAP on its route optimization work carried out in Albania in 2009 and stated that TAP’s work could be used as an example of best practice for similar projects in Albania,” Mr. Falck said.
TAP is a pipeline project, measuring 520 km 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.
