The Trans-Adriatic (TAP) pipeline has delivered its 50th billion cubic meter of natural gas to European markets since it began operations in 2020. With an annual capacity of 10 billion cubic meters, the 877-kilometer pipeline connects the Caspian gas fields to European consumers, transporting supplies from Azerbaijan via the Trans-Anatolian (TANAP) pipeline.
The route passes through northern Greece and Albania, continues beneath the Adriatic Sea, and comes ashore in Italy’s Apulia region. Since its commissioning, Italy has received approximately 41.7 billion cubic meters of gas through TAP, while 4.8 billion cubic meters have been supplied to Greece and 3.2 billion to Bulgaria. This highlights TAP’s role in diversifying energy supplies in southern and eastern Europe.
According to the operator, reaching the 50-billion-cubic-meter milestone demonstrates the pipeline’s operational reliability and its contribution to Europe’s energy security and transition. By providing a new source of supply and a transport corridor, TAP has helped reduce reliance on more carbon-intensive fuels, while also pursuing decarbonization within its operations.
The first phase of capacity expansion is already in progress, with an additional 1.2 billion cubic meters per year expected from 2026. In the longer term, TAP is designed to handle up to 20 billion cubic meters annually, depending on market demand.
The project is managed by an international consortium, with bp, SOCAR, Snam, Fluxys, and Enagas each holding a 20 percent share. TAP’s ongoing development reinforces its strategic position as both a key supply route and a future-ready element of Europe’s changing energy network.
