TAP expected to work at full capacity in 2023 - Shahbazov

The Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP), which transports Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe, is expected to be fully operational in 2023, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov told Report.

He noted that the pipeline has transported 9.2 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas to the European market so far: "Since the commissioning of the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP), 14.7 billion cubic meters of gas have been supplied to Turkey."

According to Shahbazov, last year, European consumers were supplied with 8.1 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani natural gas via TAP: "In 2022, more than 9 billion cubic meters of gas are projected to be exported to Europe."

The Minister said that most of the natural gas volumes were transported to the Italian market through TAP: "Last year, 6.9 billion cubic meters of gas were supplied to Italy. In 2022, 7.4 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas is projected to be exported to this country."

TAP transports natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. The 878 km long pipeline connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.

On the first day of the project, which started the flow of natural gas to Europe on December 31, 2020, 10.9 million cubic meters of natural gas was transported to Europe via TAP.

TAP will facilitate gas supplies to South Eastern European countries through prospective interconnectors. In particular, Bulgaria will be able to cover up to 33% of its total gas demand through TAP after the completion of the Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB). TAP's exits in Greece and Albania together with the landfall in Italy provide multiple opportunities for further transport of gas from Azerbaijan to the wider European markets.

As a key part of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP is strategically and economically important to Europe and essential in providing reliable access to a new source of natural gas. TAP plays a significant role in boosting Europe's energy security, supply diversification, as well as decarbonization objectives.

The project includes BP (operator - 28.8%), AzSD (10%), SGC Upstream (6.7%), LUKoil (10%), Petronas (15.5%), NICO (10%) and TPAO (19%).