TAP interconnection point in Greece to become bidirectional from October 1

BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The Nea
Mesimvria interconnection point of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline
(TAP) in Greece will become bidirectional from October 1.

TAP Managing Director Luca Schieppati made the announcement on
September 29 on the sidelines of the Italy Energy Summit.

"From October 1, the Nea Mesimvria interconnection point will
become bidirectional, strengthening market integration and
increasing the flexibility of the gas system," he said.

This will enable the point to function as both an entry and exit
point, allowing natural gas to flow in both directions between the
TAP system and Greece’s National Natural Gas System (NNGS) operated
by DESFA.

Schieppati added that in almost six years of commercial
operations, TAP has demonstrated its strategic importance for
Europe.

"More than 62 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas have been
transported through the pipeline to date, with nearly 10 bcm
supplied annually to Italy, accounting for around 15–16% of the
country's total gas imports. Since 2026, TAP has made an additional
1.2 bcm per year of long-term capacity available," the managing
director explained.

He also noted that TAP is continuing to prepare for a
lower-carbon future through initiatives involving biomethane,
hydrogen blending, electrification and new technologies for CO₂
management.

"Under the Carbon Management Plan for 2026–2030, we aim to
further reduce emissions and emissions intensity. In the long term,
TAP aims to consolidate its role as an interconnector within
Europe's energy network, transporting progressively decarbonized
gas and renewable gases in support of security of supply,"
Schieppati said.

In the short term, against the backdrop of the crises in Ukraine
and the Middle East, TAP continues to play a strategic role in
ensuring security of supply by diversifying sources and routes,
strengthening interconnections and making effective use of existing
gas infrastructure, he added.

TAP forms the European section of the Southern Gas Corridor,
through which natural gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is
delivered to European markets. The 877-kilometer pipeline runs from
the Greek-Turkish border through Greece and Albania, crosses the
Adriatic Sea and reaches the southern coast of Italy. TAP has an
initial capacity of 10 bcm of gas per year, with the potential to
increase capacity to 20 bcm per year.