The Trans Adriatic Pipeline said on May 16 that activity in each of
the three host countries – Greece, Albania and Italy — is on time, on
track and on budget. TAP marks its one-year anniversary since
construction of the natural gas pipeline started on May 17.
“Much has been achieved over the past twelve months. As of early-May
2017: The project has a world-class site safety record with lost time
frequency levels well below international norms,” TAP said in a press
release.
TAP’s contractors cleared approximately 49% of the project route in
Greece and Albania (371 kilometres out of 765 kiloemetres), TAP said,
adding that 22.6% of welded steel pipes are already in the ground
(backfilled).
In Italy, work is ongoing with the first batch of olive trees
temporarily stored, so that construction of the 1,5 kilometres
micro-tunnel can start later in the year, TAP said, adding that 68.5% of
the total 55,000 pipes to be used for the construction of the pipeline
have been received in Greece, Albania and Italy.
More than 5,200 people have been working for the project across TAP’s
host countries, over 85% of which have been employed locally.
TAP implemented a wide range of social and environmental investment
(SEI) programmes in the communities along its route. 70 additional
projects with a total value of approximately €15 million are due to be
rolled out in the upcoming months. In total, TAP will invest over €55
million in SEI in Greece, Albania and Italy.
“We are pleased with our performance. In terms of overall project
progress, we are approximately 41% complete, including all engineering,
procurement and construction scope,” TAP Managing Director
Ian Bradshaw
said. “We are on track to deliver first gas from Shah Deniz II in 2020,
becoming an active part of the European energy network, enabling more
competitive and secure energy to reach homes and businesses.”
Bradshaw said that so far “approximately 173 kilometres of welded
steel pipes – around 21 times our project length in Italy – have been
put in the ground in Greece and Albania. TAP remains fully committed to
reinstate land to its original condition or better. A project of this
scale and magnitude will face daily challenges, however, we are well
positioned to address and manage them by working closely with our teams,
our supply network and alongside communities”.
TAP said the project has an equally ambitious programme for the next
twelve months. “By this time next year, it plans to have completed the
clearing and grading of the route across Greece and Albania and have
approximately 67% of welded pipes placed in the ground (backfilled),”
the press release read.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/tap-pipeline-says-project-time-track-budget/