Greece, Albania, Italy sign intergovernmental document for TAP construction

Greek Foreign Minister Avramopoulos, Albanian Vice Premier Edmond Haxhinasto and Italian Minister for Economic Development Corrado Passera have signed an intergovernment agreement to build the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The ceremony was attended by Azerbaijani governmental officials, Axpo (Switzerland), Statoil (Norway) and E.ON Ruhrgas (Germany).

TAP may filled with gas from Shah Deniz. The pipeline will run from Komotini (Greece) to Albania, under the Adriatic Sea to Brindisi (Italy). It will have a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters a year and will be expanded to 20 billion cubic meters.

SOCAR, BP and Total had signed an agreement on joint management of TAP a month ago. It will come into force when they choose a route for the pipeline. SOCAR, BP and Total will get 50% of its shares.

The Shah Deniz Consortium will make the final decision on the pipeline in June 2013.