The Albanian National Territorial Council (KKT) has approved the Compound Development Permit – Phase 1 for the Trans Adriatic Project (TAP) gas pipeline project. The Compound Development Permit - Phase 1 (CDC- Phase 1) is one of the most important permits granted to TAP by the Albanian authorities. It represents the permit which will authorise TAP AG to start its construction activities in Albania. The construction activities will start with the upgrade and construction of access roads and bridges in Albania in 2015 and this will be followed by the pipeline laying and construction of other facilities associated with this gas transportation infrastructure. TAP will transport 10 to 20 bcm/year of natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe. The approximately 870 km long pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) near the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy. TAP’s shareholding is comprised of BP (20%), SOCAR (20%), Statoil (20%), Fluxys (16%), Total (10%), E.ON (9%) and Axpo (5%).