TAP Gets Nod From Albania

The government of Albania has signed off on the terms for the implementation of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline through its territory, the project's consortium announced.

TAP welcomed the signing of a host government agreement for the pipeline by the Tirana government. The agreement details the terms of land easement, acquisition and other regulations.

"We would like to thank the Albanian government for their continuing support in realizing today's agreement and look forward to working closely with them in realizing TAP, and all of the benefits it will bring for Albania," TAP managing director Kjetil Tungland said in a statement.

TAP claims to be the Balkans country's largest sources of foreign investment. TAP would extend from the Turkish border through Greece and Albanian before it crosses the Adriatic Sea. It aims to convey at least 350 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas per year .

Meanwhile consideration is taking place of the two competing bids, TAP and Nabucco West, to carry gas from the Shah Deniz II natural gas field offshore Azerbaijan. The Shah Deniz consortium  is due to announce the winner by the end of June.