This is the first TAP community investment program in Melendugno aimed to improve the quality of life through cultural, social and environmental projects. The initiative is called TAPstart and has been presented at a Lecce press briefing by Michele Elia, TAP Country Manager for Italy and Alessandro Leon, president of consulting firm Cles.

Associations and non-profit entities registered in the Municipality of Melendugno are eligible for funding of up to 25,000 Euro for projects submitted between July 15 and September 30 2016. All necessary information and forms are available on the dedicated website www.tapstart.it

The projects need to be in line with TAP’s four objectives for socio-environmental investment: economic development, quality of life, skills development or environmental protection. Projects submitted in partnership with Italian non-profit associations and institutions or local public entities (local authorities, schools, social and health facilities, etc.) are also eligible. A special commission comprised of independent experts will evaluate the projects and prepare the list of winners, which will be announced later in 2016. The projects will be implemented during 2017.

TAP aims to launch further calls for submissions twice a year during the pipeline construction period, for a total of 1.4 million Euro.

Michele Elia, TAP Country Manager for Italy, stressed: “TAPstart demonstrates that TAP continues to act as a responsible and permanent member of the economic and social landscape in Melendugno and Salento. We want to contribute to the growth of a territory in which TAP will operate for at least fifty years”.

“Additional community investment initiatives will follow and TAP hopes these will materialise in partnership with the local authorities”, added Elia.

TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe. The approximately 878 km long pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.

TAP’s routing can facilitate gas supply to several South Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and others. TAP’s landfall in Italy provides multiple opportunities for further transport of Caspian natural gas to some of the largest European markets such as Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland and Austria.

TAP will promote the economic development and job creation along the pipeline route; it will be a major source of foreign direct investment. With first gas sales to Georgia and Turkey targeted for late 2018, first deliveries to Europe will follow approximately in early 2020.

/Azertag/

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