The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) announced today that it has commenced its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process in Greece. The submission of its Scoping Report to the Greek authorities comes after similar moves in Albania and Italy earlier this year.
The result of extensive route refinement studies undertaken between 2010 and 2011, the Scoping Report provides a description of TAP’s preferred route, including potential environmental and social impacts and their mitigation measures. In particular, special consideration has been given to the avoidance of sensitive natural habitats.
The pipeline will start at a tie-in point with the existing gas network near Nea Mesimvria in Central Macedonia and will extend approximately 185 km to the Greek/Albanian border, crossing into Albania northwest of Dipotamia. The route will cross the regions of Central and West Macedonia and will pass through a total of eleven municipalities: Chalkidona, Alexandreia, Naousa, Edessa, Skydra, Amyntaio, Pella, Eordea, Kastoria, Nestorio and Orestida.
The pipeline remains on schedule to be operational in time for the first gas from Shah Deniz II in 2017.