BAAR, Switzerland, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Submitting an application for natural gas pipeline crossing Greece is a key step in plans for developing the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline system, a manager said.
The TAP consortium announced it sent its application for the construction of an Independent Natural Gas System for approval by Greek authorities. The Greek section of TAP measures roughly 289 miles and could deliver in as much as $2 billion in investments to a battered Greek economy, said Rikard Scoufias, TAP's country manager in Athens.
"Our commitment to Greece stands as firm as ever and we are looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership," he added.
TAP sent third-party access exemption applications to the host countries that would let the consortium enter into a ship-or-pay gas transportation agreement with shippers working in the Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan.
TAP would move natural gas from the Caspian region to European markets. It would start near Thessaloniki, Greece, go through the Adriatic Sea and reach shore in southern Italy.
TAP could come online by the time developers start shipping gas from Azerbaijan in 2017.
