ATHENS - The consortium planning a new natural gas pipeline for the European market across Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea to Italy said contractors are invited to bid on offshore construction work.
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has launched two pre-qualification contracts for the construction of the 105 kilometre offshore pipeline section under the Adriatic Sea. The greatest depth the pipeline will be laid is 820 metres.
The first pre-qualification comprises Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) works for the offshore section of the 36 inch pipeline between the coastlines of Albania and southern Italy. The EPCI scope of work includes associated landfall civil works at the landfalls in both Albania and Italy, as well as survey, seabed and pre-commissioning activities, TAP said in a press release.
The second pre-qualification process is for supply of offshore line pipes and coating. The scope of work is divided into three lots.
“I am delighted to invite companies – including those from TAP’s host countries – to submit expressions of interest in line with the pre-qualification documentation now available on TED,” TAP Procurement Director Knut Steinar Kvindesland said. “The selection of potential suppliers will remain rigorous, with particular emphasis on meeting Health, Safety and Environment standards and a proven commitment to TAP’s zero harm policy,” he added.
Following the selection stage, TAP aims to issue the related Invitations to Tender (ITT) for offshore construction by May 2015.
British energy company BP leads a project consortium tapping into natural gas off the coast of Azerbaijan. The company has awarded more than $1 billion in development contracts since selecting the TAP as its option for Azeri gas in 2013.
TAP is covered under a European network of pipelines dubbed the Southern Corridor, which are meant to boost energy security by reducing Europe’s gas dependence on Russia and transit through Ukraine.
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TAP would connect to the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) running through Turkey to the Greek border. The pipeline consortium, which has headquarters in Switzerland, said it aims to begin offshore construction by May.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/pipeline-across-adriatic-sea-gains-momentum