Online Newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and information from publics.bg

News

World news

03.07.2013 14:26

TAP and DESFA Sign Cooperation Agreement

This cooperation is expected to further strengthen the positions of TAP which already won the battle with rivaling project Nabucco for Caspian gas from Shah Deniz 2 field

AUTHOR: publics.bg

© TAP

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has signed a Cooperation Agreement with Gr eek natural gas transmission system operator, DESFA. Specifically TAP and DESFA plan to enter into an agreement on day-to-day technical operation and maintenance for the Greek section of the TAP pipeline. Other joint activities will include the review of interconnection points with the DESFA pipeline system to further enhance security of supply and technical cooperation, an official statement of TAP reads. The Greek stretch of TAP is the longest one onshore with a length of about 550 km.

This cooperation is expected to further strengthen the positions of TAP which already won the battle with rivaling project Nabucco for Caspian gas from Shah Deniz 2 field.

According to Elishad Nasirov, director of Azeri state oil company SOCAR, partner in Shah Deniz 2, two of the other partners in the consortium – BP and Total, would acquire with SOCAR a stake in TAP. TAP stakeholders have already agreed to allow up to 50% share in the gas pipeline to Shah Deniz 2 consortium. Total and BP also have a stake in the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) which is to be the major supply route for TAP, Azeri website abc.az reported.

What is more SOCAR turned out to be the only bidder for the privatization of DESFA. The sale of DESFA is expected to proceed despite the failed privatization of its mother-company - Greek state gas company DEPA, after Russia’s Gazprom did not submit a much expected bid.