ANKARA

Azerbaijani gas has reached Italy through the Trans Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP), Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

“Southern Gas Corridor has become operational,” the ministry said on Twitter.

TAP is now in service and Azerbaijan gas has reached Italy. Southern Gas Corridor has become operational. A new chapter has been opened in Turkey’s contribution to energy supply security of the rest of Europe. pic.twitter.com/dPac3Yur9u

— Turkish MFA (@MFATurkey) January 8, 2021

“A new chapter has been opened in Turkey’s contribution to energy supply security of the rest of Europe,” it added.

TAP transports natural gas from the Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe.

The last segment and the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP was completed in October 2019 after a construction period of four and half years.

The $40 billion value chain of the Southern Gas Corridor includes the South Caucasus Pipeline, the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and TAP.

The pipeline connects with the 878-kilometer-long TANAP at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.

The project, which is regarded as playing a significant role in Europe's energy security and diversification, secured $3.9 billion in financing from international financial institutions.

Shareholders include BP, SOCAR and Snam each with a 20% share interest, along with Fluxys with a 19% interest, Enagas with a 16% shareholding and Axpo with 5%, and all of whom agreed to a resolution on the development and construction of the project at the end of 2013.