"As of late May 2019, we are over 88 percent complete, including engineering procurement and construction scope,” TAP AG company said.

Earlier this month, TAP said it has completed shallow water pipe lay and offshore pipeline backfilling in Albania for the 105 km section across the Adriatic Sea that will link the gas pipeline to Italy’s transmission network.

The first 1.8 km of welded pipe was pulled ashore at the landfall near the south western city of Fier, TAP said in April.

The pipes will be laid on the Adriatic seabed: 37 km in Albanian territorial waters, 25 km in Italian territorial waters; and 43 km in international waters.

Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at Greece's border with Turkey, TAP will stretch across northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before reaching Italy's coast where it will connect to the Italian natural gas network.

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will transport Caspian natural gas from the Shah Deniz 2 field to Europe.

TAP is the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor, enhancing Europe’s energy security and contributing to decarbonisation and the diversification of gas supplies.

The 878km long pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy, where it will connect to Italy’s gas transportation grid operated by SNAM Rete Gas.

TAP’s shareholding is comprised of BP (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagás (16%) and Axpo (5%).

TAP AG has its headquarters in Baar, Switzerland and branch offices in Athens, Rome, Tirana. Currently, TAP employs over 100 oil and gas specialists from 24 countries and over 200 experts from contracted service companies.

More about: SOCAR   Trans-Adriatic-Pipeline   Southern-Gas-Corridor