TAP expansion strengthens Azerbaijan-Albania energy links
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) became capable of transporting an additional 1.2 billion cubic metres of gas per year as of January 1 this year. This has sent an important signal to the market. Azerbaijan will be able to increase its gas exports to Europe, where demand for new sources of gas remains strong. The additional capacity of TAP also opens the door to expanding the geography of supplies. At the beginning of the year, Azerbaijani gas started flowing to Austria and Germany, marking another step in strengthening the country’s position on the European market. However, this is not the pipeline’s final potential. TAP is designed for a phased increase in capacity to as much as 20 billion cubic metres per year. The current expansion can therefore be seen as another stage in Azerbaijan’s broader plans to increase gas supplies to Europe. This is particularly important amid growing interest among European countries in alternative suppliers.