Greece Lends Support to TAP

Managing Director of the Trans Adriatic pipeline (TAP) consortium Kjetil Tungland has said that Greece has re-affirmed its support for the pipeline in a meeting today.

"The Greek government confirmed to us today its strong interest in ensuring that the TAP project is implemented, a position that we welcome," Mr. Tungland said in a statement.

The confirmation of support came at a meeting between Greek Foreign Minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Mr. Tungland, and TAP's External Affairs Director, Michael Hoffmann, the TAP consortium said. 

The pipeline, which is in the running to supply gas from the Azeri Shah Deniz field, is planned to run from the Shah Deniz field to Europe via Greece and Albania. The pipeline is currently under consideration by the BP-led Shah Deniz consortium to transport gas in a southerly route. Its competitor, the Nabucco West pipeline, is under consideration to carry the gas along a more northerly route. The decision on which pipeline will be used to transport the gas is expected to be made by 2013 at the latest, though a decision could come as soon as the end of this year.

Mr. Tungland said today that the reassurance by the Greek government reinforced the strong relationship between TAP and Greece.

"This is just a further step in the good and productive relationship TAP has had with the Greek government and the country’s authorities throughout the project’s development," he said. "We are confident that the enduring partnership that has developed among all parties involved will continue to grow and provide the best possible solution for the completion of the Southern Corridor, which will benefit both Europe and Greece.”