Baku: The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is reinforcing Europe's energy security and contributing to the diversification of gas supplies, according to an interview with Luca Schieppati, Managing Director of TAP AG, published by Azerbaijan State News Agency. Since its commercial operations began in 2020, TAP has become a vital component of Europe's energy infrastructure by delivering natural gas to Southeastern Europe and Italy. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce dependence on traditional suppliers while supporting a sustainable transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, TAP has achieved a significant milestone by transporting over 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe. This accomplishment underscores TAP's role in ensuring a reliable and diversified gas supply, which has bolstered competition and supported decarbonization in South-Eastern Europe. Specifically, TAP has delivered more than 41.7 bcm to Italy, over 4.8 bcm to Greece, and over 3.2 bcm to Bulgaria. Furthermore, in 2024, TAP accounted for around 18% of Greece's and over 16% of Italy's total gas imports.
TAP is recognized for its contribution to the EU's goal of supplying gas to Southeast Europe. It is considered a flagship project for the decarbonization of the Western Balkans, facilitating access to cleaner and affordable energy while reducing reliance on a single gas supplier. TAP's potential to further enhance Europe's energy security and decarbonization efforts is contingent upon increasing pipeline capacity, subject to market demand.
The pipeline has faced challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic during its initial operations. However, TAP has continued to support Europe's energy security. Looking ahead, TAP aims to align with the EU's 2050 Net Carbon Zero goal while ensuring sustainability and energy security.
TAP has also fostered regional cooperation among Greece, Bulgaria, and Italy, transforming these nations into energy hubs. The pipeline connects with other projects like the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), operational since 2022, and supports eastward gas transportation from Italy to Greece and Bulgaria. This network extends to Western Balkans markets and Moldova, demonstrating TAP's role as a driver of regional collaboration.
The customer profile for TAP has evolved over the years, with the number of registered parties growing from three at the start of operations to 45 by September 2025. This growth reflects TAP's impact on market interconnectivity, particularly in Greece and Bulgaria.
As Europe moves toward climate neutrality, TAP envisions itself as a transitional infrastructure capable of transporting alternative gas types, such as hydrogen. Ongoing assessments and material tests aim to evaluate TAP's readiness for hydrogen transportation. Results from these evaluations will inform future plans for integrating TAP into Europe's green energy infrastructure.
Technological innovations and investments are crucial for TAP's future. The pipeline's CO2 emissions largely stem from gas-powered compressors. Consequently, TAP is exploring the use of electrically driven compressor units to support energy transition goals.
In response to Europe's evolving gas consumption landscape, TAP recognizes the enduring importance of natural gas in the energy mix. Natural gas-fired power plants provide necessary on-demand power to complement renewable energy sources. Through innovative technologies like Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS), natural gas can aid in achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the EU's 2050 carbon neutrality goal.