Works on the Trans-Adriatic Natural Gas Pipeline Project's (TAP) are underway with the construction of two compressor stations, Deputy Minister of Energy and Industry of Albania told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Monday.
Speaking exclusively to AA, İlir Bejtja said that the pipe installation has already started in the project's three location points in Albania, and completion of the installation is expected by 2018.
"I think by 2018 the installation will end but now they are starting with the two pumping compressor stations. Meanwhile, we are hoping to take an license for subsea works that plan to start immediately. They are on track," the Minister said.
The TAP project aims to connect the Trans Anatolian Natural gas Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greece-Turkey border and cross northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before going onshore in southern Italy, where it will link up with the Snam-operated Italian natural gas network.
The entire project will be 878 kilometers in length with an initial capacity of 10 billion cubic meters per year to transfer Azerbaijan’s natural gas to several European markets.
Bejtja asserted that the TAP project would help the Albanian economy and the country hopes that more than €1 billion will enter the economy, through investments, construction, planned works and secondary infrastructures as part of TAP project, Bejtja noted.
"All this money enters the economy and Albanian companies make all the investments," he underlined.
He highlighted that currently 2,000 people are employed through the TAP project including in transportation, environment, construction, out of which more than 90 percent are Albanians. He added that this number could reach at least 3,000 but even reach more in the long run.
In the final period of construction, he forecasted that there would be employment opportunities for between 5,000 and 7,000 people.
Once constructed, there will be around 700 permanent employees, according to the minister.
On the question of whether Albania will import gas from TAP, he replied that Albania would not import gas directly from the first 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) that is set to be sent to European customers.
"We are guaranteed 0.3 billion cubic meters only for the Vlora thermal power plant (TPP)," he noted.
- Investments of Turkish companies
The Albanian minister hailed the investments that Turkish companies have made in the country's energy, mining and refining sectors as well as in many other sectors in the country.
Electricity produced from plants constructed by Turkish companies can be exported to Turkey, Bejtja affirmed, adding that no restrictions have been placed on these companies.
"We do not charge for exports, or in cross border taxes and we have no VAT or customs either. We have enough interconnections that make it easy to export in Greece, via Kosovo, and Bulgaria, via Montenegro. So there is a possibility to export to whether it is to Turkey or to other neighboring countries, it doesn't matter. They can do good business in Albania," he asserted.
Albania is a country with low energy costs because it has good running water throughout all seasons, according to Bejtja.
The Albanian minister said that Turkey and Albania are not neighboring countries and although it would be far easier to cooperate in the electricity sector for countries that border one another, he believes that any cooperation in non-bordering countries in this area would be beneficial for all parties concerned.
"If it [electricity network] goes wider, it will be better. So if we go to Turkey through Bulgaria or other countries, it will be beneficial for them [all countries involved] because they also have investments in our country and for us, because we can sell energy even further than our neighbors," he concluded.
(Anadolu Agency)
