by Kostis Geropoulos On 12 September, Italy’s Minister of Environment Gianluca Galletti signed the Decree of environmental compatibility of the project submitted by Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) for the Italian section of the pipeline, concluding another major milestone for the project, TAP said. The final EIA report is in full accordance with both Italian and EU legislation and follows the international requirements of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), TAP said in a press release. Also on September 12, Greece’s Environment, Energy and Climate Change Minister Yiannis Maniatis approved the environmental conditions (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - ESIA) for the construction of TAP in Greece. The decision concerns the Greek section of the pipeline - 543 kilometres from Kipoi of Evros to the Greek-Albanian border in the area of Ieropigis in Northern Kastoria, the Greek government said on its website. Regarding Italy’s approval of the EIA, TAP said in the press release that it comes after extensive engagement with all those involved including regular discussion with local communities, public consultation and close cooperation with those national and regional authorities involved in the process. “TAP is committed to responsibly deliver a world-class project in Italy and will continue to work closely and collaboratively with all those involved,” the consortium said. TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe. The approximately 870 kilometre long pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) near the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.
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