Trans Adriatic Pipeline
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline is the 878-kilometre final European section of the Southern Gas Corridor, transporting Azerbaijani natural gas from Greece through Albania and the Adriatic Sea to Italy.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline, commonly known as TAP, is a cross-border natural-gas transportation system and project company forming the westernmost section of the Southern Gas Corridor. It carries gas produced at Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz field through the South Caucasus Pipeline and the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline before entering TAP at the Greece–Turkey border near Kipoi in the Evros region. From there, the system crosses northern and central Greece, continues through Albania, passes beneath the Adriatic Sea, and comes ashore near San Foca in Italy’s Apulia region. An onshore connection then links the Italian terminal with the national gas network. The project was developed to create a new route for Caspian gas to European markets and to support diversification of supply sources and transit corridors. TAP began commercial operations in November 2020, with the first Azerbaijani gas reaching Italy in December of that year. Its initial annual capacity is approximately 10 billion cubic metres, allocated principally to Italy, with deliveries also available to Greece and Bulgaria through associated infrastructure. A staged expansion plan is intended to increase capacity toward 20 billion cubic metres per year; the first expansion phase was triggered after the 2021 binding market test and is expected to add approximately 1.2 billion cubic metres annually. The pipeline is 878 kilometres long, comprising approximately 550 kilometres in Greece, 215 kilometres in Albania, 105 kilometres offshore in the Adriatic, and 8 kilometres in Italy. The offshore section reaches a maximum depth of about 810 metres. The system uses large-diameter, high-pressure pipe, with different specifications for its onshore and offshore sections. Reported total construction expenditure was about €4.5 billion, with roughly one-third spent on the Albanian section. Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG is a Swiss joint venture established to develop, construct and operate the infrastructure. Its present shareholders are BP, Azerbaijan’s SOCAR, Italy’s Snam, Belgium’s Fluxys and Spain’s Enagás, each with a 20 percent interest. TAP has received political and institutional support from European authorities as a Project of Common Interest and is integrated with other Southern Gas Corridor assets, including TANAP and the Gas Interconnector Greece–Bulgaria. The project has also been controversial, particularly in Italy. Local residents, environmental organizations and some regional officials objected to the selected landfall near San Foca, the relocation of mature olive trees, the effect of construction on a historically important agricultural landscape, and the safety and environmental implications of placing gas infrastructure near a public beach. These disputes accompanied the construction phase but did not prevent the pipeline from entering operation. TAP’s strategic positioning combines long-term gas transportation, European energy-security infrastructure and access to new east-to-west supply capacity.
History
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline originated as a proposal by the Swiss energy company EGL Group, now part of Axpo, in 2003. An initial feasibility study concluded in March 2006. Developers examined both a northern route through Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania and a southern route through Greece and Albania. The southern alignment was ultimately preferred because it was considered more feasible. Extended basic engineering was completed in 2007. On 13 February 2008, EGL and Statoil agreed to establish Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG as a joint venture for development, construction and operation. TAP subsequently began formal work in the three host countries. It filed an application in Greece in June 2008, carried out an offshore marine survey in the Adriatic in January 2009, and began an Albanian route assessment later that year. In 2010, the project opened offices in Greece, Albania and Italy and applied for integration with the Italian gas network. E.ON became a project partner in 2010. A major strategic objective was securing gas transportation commitments from the Shah Deniz consortium in Azerbaijan. In September 2011, TAP applied for exemptions from European Union third-party-access rules in Greece, Albania and Italy. The exemptions, granted in May 2013, enabled the project to enter long-term ship-or-pay arrangements with shippers of Shah Deniz Stage 2 gas. TAP was selected in February 2012 for exclusive negotiations with the Shah Deniz consortium and was chosen in June 2013 over the competing Nabucco West proposal as the route for those supplies. The project received increasing political backing. Greece, Albania and Italy confirmed support in a September 2012 memorandum of understanding and signed an intergovernmental agreement in February 2013. In 2013, BP, SOCAR, Total and Fluxys became shareholders or strategic participants. E.ON and Total later sold their interests in 2014 to Enagás and Fluxys. In December 2015, Snam acquired Statoil’s 20 percent share. A 2023 transaction involving Axpo’s remaining 5 percent interest resulted in the current equal-shareholding structure: BP, SOCAR, Snam, Fluxys and Enagás each hold 20 percent. Construction formally began on 16 May 2016. The route extends from the Greece–Turkey border through Greece and Albania, under the Adriatic Sea, and into Italy near San Foca. The 878-kilometre system includes a 105-kilometre offshore segment, which reaches a maximum depth of approximately 810 metres. Construction costs were reported at about €4.5 billion. The project faced local opposition in Apulia, where critics objected to the beach landfall, the relocation of century-old olive trees and possible effects on the region’s agricultural and coastal environment. Some officials also questioned the choice of landing point and expressed concerns about public works, organized crime and corruption risks. TAP entered commercial operation on 15 November 2020, and the first Azerbaijani gas arrived in Italy on 30 December 2020. Its initial capacity is approximately 10 billion cubic metres per year, with a long-term expansion potential toward 20 billion cubic metres. The Gas Interconnector Greece–Bulgaria, which began operating in October 2022, provides an additional regional connection to gas transported through the Southern Gas Corridor. In January 2023, TAP announced that the first stage of capacity expansion had been activated following the binding phase of its 2021 market test.
- 2023
First TAP capacity expansion triggered
[1]TAP announced activation of the first expansion level, adding about 1.2 billion cubic metres of annual capacity.
- 2022
Gas Interconnector Greece–Bulgaria enters service
[1]The interconnector began operating, linking Bulgaria to gas supplied through the Greek system and the Southern Gas Corridor.
- 2020
Commercial operations commence
[1]TAP began commercial operations in November and delivered its first Azerbaijani gas to Italy in December.
- 2016
Construction begins
[1]Physical construction of the pipeline started on 16 May.
- 2013
TAP selected over Nabucco West
[1]The Shah Deniz consortium selected TAP as its route for Stage 2 Azerbaijani gas to Europe.
- 2012
TAP enters exclusive Shah Deniz negotiations
[1]TAP became the first project pre-selected for exclusive negotiations with the Shah Deniz consortium.
- 2008
Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG established
[1]EGL Group and Statoil created the Swiss joint venture responsible for developing and operating TAP.
- 2006
Feasibility study completed
[1]A feasibility study evaluated alternative northern and southern routes into Europe.
- 2003
TAP concept announced
[1]EGL Group announced the initial Trans Adriatic Pipeline concept.
Products and positioning
A strategic European gas-transmission corridor intended to diversify supply routes and connect Azerbaijani gas with markets in southern and southeastern Europe.
Natural-gas transmission infrastructure · 2020
Trans Adriatic Pipeline
TAP is an 878-kilometre high-pressure natural-gas pipeline running from Kipoi at the Greece–Turkey border through Greece and Albania, beneath the Adriatic Sea and into Italy near San Foca. It transports gas originating from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz field and constitutes the final western section of the Southern Gas Corridor. Its initial capacity is approximately 10 billion cubic metres per year, with planned expansion toward 20 billion cubic metres.
Pipeline capacity service · 2023
TAP capacity expansion
The expansion program is designed to increase TAP’s annual transmission capacity beyond its initial 10 billion cubic metres. The first expansion level was triggered after the binding stage of the 2021 market test and is expected to provide approximately 1.2 billion cubic metres of additional annual capacity.
Brand decisions
2023
First capacity expansion level activatedGeneration changeBackground
The 2021 market test included a binding phase for additional TAP transportation capacity.
Action taken
TAP announced that the first expansion level had been triggered, adding approximately 1.2 billion cubic metres per year.
Aftermath
The decision began the staged process of increasing TAP capacity beyond its initial 10 billion cubic metres annually.
2016
Construction authorization and route implementationOtherBackground
The project required land and marine works across Greece, Albania and Italy, including an Italian landfall near San Foca.
Action taken
Construction began on 16 May 2016 along the approved route.
Aftermath
The project advanced despite continuing protests and environmental objections in Apulia.
2013
Selection as the Shah Deniz Stage 2 routeStrategyBackground
TAP competed with Nabucco West to transport gas from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz Stage 2 development to European markets.
Action taken
The Shah Deniz consortium selected TAP as the preferred western route.
Aftermath
The selection enabled TAP to proceed toward construction and secure its role as the final section of the Southern Gas Corridor.
Recent events
TAP receives Gastech Project of the Year award[3]
The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline received the Gastech Awards 2021 award in the “Natural Gas, LNG or Hydrogen Project of the Year” category at the event in Dubai.
Sources3 sources
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