TAP submits updated environmental and social impact assessment

Earlier this week, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) submitted its updated environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) to the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea. The latest stage in a process, started in March 2012, will now see the final documentation go to consultation with all relevant national, regional and local authorities.

The revised ESIA

The revised ESIA reflects feedback from the ongoing dialogue with administrative authorities and local communities. It analyses risks and opportunities linked to the TAP pipeline project, considers its environmental, socio-economic and cultural heritage effects, and describes how any possible negative impacts will be mitigated or eliminated with world-class technologies and methods.

The updated ESIA replaces in full the document submitted in March 2012. It describes TAP’s new configuration in Italy, addressing comments received during extensive consultation. When selecting alternative routes for the pipeline, TAP representatives listened to the views of local communities, administrative authorities and other stakeholders.

Country Manager of TAP’s Office in Italy, Giampaolo Russo, said “TAP has carried out a huge amount of work to ensure the creation of a project that could be completely safe, technically excellent and respectful of the Apulian environment and territory. During three years we carefully analysed the alternatives in Brindisi area and four macro-routes, but those options weren’t able to deliver a technically suitable and environmentally safe landfall. Our in-depth research then identified the best route and most suitable landfall in Melendugno Municipality.”

Russo added “The new ESIA documentation has taken into account every comment we received, including the views expressed during meetings with citizens and local institutions.”

As required by law, the new ESIA documentation has now gone to consultation with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Tourism, Apulia Region, Lecce Province and Melendugno Municipality.

TAP pipeline

TAP will transport natural gas from the Shah Deniz field, Azerbaijan, to Europe. The pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian pipeline near the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, across Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in southern Italy. It is planned that TAP will be ready to transport natural gas in 2019.

Edited from various sources by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/08102013/tap_submits_pipeline_environmental_and_social_impact_assessment/