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)