Italian crisis delays TAP

The Italian senate postponed the voting for the agreement between Italy, Greece and Albania, with the official argument that some of the senators have asked for more information about the recent developments of this project.

Albania’s western neighbor has entered a government crisis and the voting of this agreement could be suspended for an unknown amount of time.

The ratification of this agreement from the Parliaments of the three respective countries is an obligatory condition before the Shah Deniz consortium takes the final decision of the investment that would make way for the pipeline construction.

Roma has always supported TAP and has lobbied about it, but the situation has apparently changed during the recent weeks. In Puglia, where the pipeline will end, a series of civil society organizations and local leaders are against the project due to the natural impact.

These stances have not left indifferent left and ecological political forces in Italy.

But more than the environmental impact, the hesitation of Rome according to some experts is a diplomatic battle that aims to maximize Italy’s economic profits.

The Italian energy giant “Enel” has expressed an open interest for buying 20% of the TAP shares.

But this interest has not been finalized, and apparently this is what has created this hesitation in Italy.

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