Bigger chances for gas pipeline

The Consortium that owns the Shah Deniz gas field declared that the project supported by Athens is not credible anymore, due to the economic crisis that has swept Greece, hence it will not be taken in consideration. The Greek variant was the main rival of the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline, the only project that includes Albania in the international gas market.

Its elimination puts the Albanian project in the first line for winning the Azeri gas transport in Europe. The first signals were given this Tuesday, when the Shah Deniz shareholders declared for Reuters that if they will chose the line from Turkey to Italy, their preferred project will be the one that is supported by Tirana. However, the competition is not over. There are three competitors attempting to win the gas transport across Europe. Two other projects are Nabucco and the Southeastern Europe Pipeline.

These pipelines will pass from Turkey to Central Europe, leaving Greece and Italy outside. The only variant that Athens and Rome have for being part of the gas network is joining the project supported by Tirana. The final decision will be taken before March.

The 800 km long Trans-Adriatic project starts in Komotini, Greece, at the Border with Turkey; it goes through Albania and ends in San Focas, Italy, through the Otranto Channel. This project is supported by three powerful power companies: the Norwegian Statoil, the Swiss EGL and the German EON Rurgas. Critics say that the disadvantage of this project is that they don’t have inter-governmental agreements with the three countries, Italy, Greece and Albania.

However, Italy and Albania have included it in one agreement, in 2009. But now, Athens and Rome have no ways for this. A joint declaration with the energy ministers of both countries announced that they gave up supporting the Greek variant, which increases the chances for these countries to join the Albanian project, by facilitating the agreements.

The chances for Albania will increase by the fact that Nabucco, the other rival project, is considered by analysts as the weakest in the competition, while the Southeastern Europe Project is penalized by the high cost.

One week ago, the Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, attended an official visit in Azerbaijan, with the pipeline in the focus of the discussions.

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