TAP pipeline, company created for gas distribution in Albania

The maintenance will be carried out by Albgaz, the newest public company for gas distribution, which derives from Albpetrol.

“We have started the first negotiations with TAP, and this will be an additional revenue for the government”, said Albgaz administrator Klodian Gradeci.

Gradeci states that several international companies have shown interest to invest the building of a gas distribution network in Albania.

The first priority project is the connection with the Ionnian-Adriatic Pipeline, which connects Albania with Kosovo, and gas distribution network for industry.

“Albania has inherited a 500 kilometer gas network, completely damaged, more than 40 years old. We are making an evaluation of the capacity that this pipeline has to offer”, Gradeci said.

The other, longer term purpose, is building a distribution network for family consumption, mainly in colder areas.

“There has been interest from the Korca municipality and foreign companies that want to develop the distribution network. Korca is among the coldest municipalities and it could have the highest gas consumption”, the Albgaz Director says.

The gas will be distributed from the Shah Deniz fields in Azerbaijan to Europe, starting from 2020.

The pipeline starts in the border between Greece and Turkey, where it will be connected with the TANAP pipeline. Then it will go through Northern Greece, for 550 kilometers, and for 215 kilometers in Albania. From there will start the sea pipeline, at the Adriatic Sea.

The initial capacity of TAP is 10 billion cubic gas a year. It will be doubled with the installation of two new compressors.

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