The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) can begin transporting biomethane with minimal technical changes within its existing infrastructure.
As Day.Az reports, TAP Managing Director Luca Schieppati said this in an exclusive interview with Trend.
“We are actively collaborating with our shareholders, key suppliers and the industry as it is expected that investment in facility upgrades and the percentage of hydrogen transported will gradually increase over time to meet the requirements of the hydrogen market and associated regulatory standards,” he said.
Schieppati also recalled that last year the European Commission’s “Gas Package” – a set of legislative reforms aimed at decarbonizing the EU gas market and promoting renewable and low-carbon gases such as hydrogen and biomethane – came into force. Under the new rules, EU member states have up to 22 months to adapt the directive to national law.
“Commercial, regulatory and technical elements are yet to be implemented and will have an impact on demand development and market efficiency. TAP can transport biomethane with minimal technical adjustments within its existing infrastructure. We continue to monitor biomethane legislation developments in the countries where we operate activities,” added the managing director of TAP.
It should be noted that the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, which is the European part of the Southern Gas Corridor, annually supplies 8 billion cubic meters of gas to Italy and one billion cubic meters of gas each to Greece and Bulgaria.
On December 31, 2020, supplies of Azerbaijani gas to Europe along the Southern Gas Corridor began. Through the TAP, Azerbaijan exported its natural gas to the European market via pipelines for the first time in history. With direct access to the European market, which is the world’s largest importer of natural gas, Azerbaijan has diversified its export opportunities.