Construction begins on Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to supply natural gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe.


TAP, part of the $45bn Southern Gas Corridor project, will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe.

The 878km pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, crossing Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea and coming ashore in Southern Italy.

TANAP, which includes the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor, is a gateway project that will deliver 10bn cubic metres annually of new Caspian gas supplies to Europe from 2020.

TAP’s managing director Ian Bradshaw said: “Today’s event marks a major milestone for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, our shareholders and for the energy landscape of Europe.

“After winning the bid in 2013 and working diligently to prepare for this moment, we are delighted to have started constructing the pipeline — a strategic project for Europe transporting new sources of Caspian gas via a new route commencing in 2020 and for years to come.”