The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) 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 and will follow the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) guidelines, recognised as the benchmark for international best practice. Submission of the Scoping Report represents an additional voluntary activity beyond the requirements of the Greek Environmental Impact Assessment process. The provision of the Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIA) to the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (MEECC) is the first formal, legal step in the process and is planned by the end of July 2011. Following verification that the PEIA contains all necessary information, MECCC will distribute the document to the appropriate authorities for their consideration and comments. The ESIA process is conducted in full accordance with both Greek and EU legislation.
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.