The environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) report was developed in accordance with the Albanian law and in compliance with the Environmental and Social Policy of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is currently disclosing the full ESIA report to all affected communities along the Albanian section of the pipeline route, which starts at Bilisht Qendër in Korça region at the Albanian-Greek border and runs for approximately 209 km.
Local authorities will organise a number of public hearings on the EISA report by the end of February 2013.
In addition, the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline has received endorsement from the senior ministers of host countries Greece, Italy and Switzerland at a meeting held with representatives of the pipeline in Davos, Switzerland.
“I believe that with the voiced support of the host countries the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline is now in a strong position to win the bid in June 2013,” said E.ON Ruhrgas Chairman of the Board of Management Klaus Schäfer.
“I very much look forward to the conclusion of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline’s Intergovernmental Agreement, due to be signed by the governments of Greece, Albania and Italy in February this year.”
The Tans-Adriatic Pipeline will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II development in Azerbaijan, shipping it via Greece and Albania, across the Adriatic Sea to Southern Italy, and further into Western Europe. Designed to expand transportation capacity from 10 to 20 Bcm/a, depending on supply and demand, TAP will open up the so-called Southern Gas Corridor, enhancing Europe’s energy security by contributing to the diversification of the region’s gas supplies.
TAP’s shareholders are Axpo of Switzerland (42.5 per cent), Norway’s Statoil (42.5 per cent) and E.ON Ruhrgas of Germany (15 per cent).
Members of the affected community can review the ESIA report for Albania and provide their comments by emailing esia-comments@tap-ag.com
The deadline for public comment is 30th of April 2013.