Tap finalises network code and opens registration

The operator of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (Tap) has opened registration for shippers and published the network code that regulates market participants' access to capacity along the pipeline.

Publication of the pipeline's network code follows approval by the energy regulators of Greece, Albania and Italy, and "has been finalised following the public consultation launched in August 2018", Tap said.

As previously announced, available capacity on the 10bn m³/yr pipeline will be marketed through the Prisma platform. The exact dates and available capacities at each interconnection point have not yet been published and will depend on the start of Tap's operations. But auctions will be held in line with European gas system operators' association Entso-G's auction calendar.

Tap has set aside about 5pc of the line's initial capacity for short-term bookings, in addition to capacity that has already been booked, the operator said previously. This short-term capacity has been set aside for at least the first 25 years from its commissioning date, it said.

According to the network code, Tap will offer firm transport capacity as yearly, quarterly, monthly and daily capacity products "subject to there being sufficient available capacity".

Firm transport capacity will be offered independently at each interconnector point, the code specified. And market participants would have to book capacity separately at each entry and exit point.

The operator could also offer daily interruptible capacity at each individual point if no firm capacity were previously booked.

The operator will not offer capacity products allowing for physical reverse flows, which would only be provided "for emergency operations", Tap said. And exit at Kipi, where the pipeline is to connect to and receive gas from the 16bn m³/yr Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (Tanap), is not possible, Tap said.

That said, the operator will offer "commercial reverse capacity" products, resulting in the creation of an "eastward virtual flow". The reverse capacity will be available on an interruptible basis, and for the same time intervals as firm capacity products. This capacity would allow shippers to backhaul gas virtually to Nea Mesimvria, Greece from Melendugno, Italy and to Komotini — where the line is to connect to the 3bn m³/yr Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) pipeline — from Italy. Shippers will also be able to deliver gas virtually to Komotini from Nea Mesimvria.

First commercial gas through the line is expected in October. Tap's initial 10bn m³/yr of capacity is fully booked for the first 20 years — 8bn m³/yr for Italy and 1bn m³/yr each for Bulgaria and Greece.

By Jacopo Casadei