Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) has started its land easement and acquisition activities for the 870-km TAP system through Albania, Greece, and Italy.
Last month, BP PLC, State Oil Co. of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), and Total SA—all members of the international consortium developing Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan—exercised their option to join TAP (OGJ Online, Aug. 23, 2013). BP and SOCAR each took a 20% share, while Total acquired a 10% stake. Major European gas transit operator Fluxys also joined the group, taking a 16% stake in the project. Other shareholders are Statoil 20%, E.On 9%, and Axpo 5%.
“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,” TAP partners said. The goal is to identify rightful land owners, establish property boundaries, and evaluate the affected properties, they said.
TAP is carrying out its activities in accordance with the international standards of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to ensure that all those affected living along the line’s corridor are compensated fairly and transparently, partners said.
TAP will transport gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe. The pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline near the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in southern Italy.