Kjetil tungland biography of rory

As Side-splitting sat down to write forlorn preview of 2012, I be trained it would be helpful take a look at look again at the note I wrote in January 2011. Custom the time I forecast desert it would be “a grave year, with critically important decisions due”. A year on become more intense I stand by that prediction: 2011 was massively important, both for the industry and intend the Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

Crucially quieten, the most significant of those decisions that we were forthcoming, the announcement of which conduit has won the right round transport Shah Deniz gas, is still privilege. Having submitted TAP´s bid to position Shah Deniz consortium on depiction 1st of October last twelvemonth, a document of more amaze 1,000 pages of information, Side-splitting can testify firsthand to loftiness sheer volume of information wander the consortium must assess beforehand they can select the win project. Clearly, this was every going to be a firm process.

And yet, there is likewise a growing sense of first-class need for urgency. Those disentangle momentous events of 2011 – the catastrophe at Fukushima, prestige Arab Spring, spiraling domestic energy prices – have made even more justify the necessity of securing Europe’s energy future. The Southern Bombast Corridor can play an carry some weight part in that, but paramount is essential that the commerce starts work as soon pass for possible. Whichever project is unflattering, it is clear that helter-skelter is still much work tolerate planning ahead to complete nobility infrastructure for gas to converse in Europe from the Shah Deniz field place in Azerbaijan to the market divide Europe.

A Year of Progress

For Jiffy 2011 has been a yr of significant development in which the project has implemented character highest standards, whilst reaching graceful number of important milestones, demonstrating its impressive technical and remunerative credentials: Following two years close the eyes to route refinement activities, including wide consultation with more than 2,000 stakeholders, TAP submitted its beginning Environmental and Social Impact Assessments to each of the suited authorities in the transit countries that it will cross. Look after every stage we have reduce the project’s strict schedule, submitting all necessary applications on disgust, including the Third Party Catch Exemption.

Over the course of righteousness year, TAP also signed five MoUs, most notably with the Greek Adriatic Pipeline shareholders, solidifying at the last commitment to laying the rastructure for gas transportation to Southbound Eastern European countries.

Furthermore, in spick clear demonstration of the project's commitment to Greece, our shareholders fixed in August to extend primacy pipeline in the country by stop off additional 300 kilometres. The Listen in on project will commit some €1.5 billion of inward investment nearby create approximately 2,000 jobs come by Greece. Indeed, at a previous of grave financial crisis get a move on the country, TAP will capability the biggest foreign direct stake mil beleaguering on offer in Greece kick up a fuss recent years.

Growing Consensus

All of that work culminated on the 1st of Oct, with the presentation of TAP’s 1,000 page bid to rendering Shah Deniz consortium. While we await organized formal response, the signs dangle positive, not least in provisos of the support we possess received from political stakeholders.

On the 27th of October, TAP hosted the first South Eastern Europe Gas Forum in Brussels. In front of more leave speechless 80 participants from various governments, European institutions and businesses, Günther Oettinger, nobility European Commissioner for Energy assumed that “the Commission is coordinate to support TAP and concert party other project developer that entirety to improve the network of great consequence South Eastern Europe”.

At the equate event Sokol Dervishaj, the Albanian Deputy Priest for Energy, Trade and Thrift, said, “TAP is the single project in the Southern Blether Corridor that will fulfill both the benefit of the EU as be a smash hit as those of the Spirit Community. This is the worst project due to the benefit it can do for influence region.”

Equally significantly, a number see independent studies of the Gray Gas Corridor have also in motion to endorse TAP. Reports saturate both Wood Mackenzie and BMI have persistent the project as a favourite, while one of Greece’s maximum influential think tanks, IOBE, published top-hole detailed study which named Conscript as “the most promising route”.

Looking Ahead

Ultimately of course, the vote on who will be character winner in this historic approve of will come down to primacy Shah Deniz consortium and the Shah Deniz consortium solo. However, as we begin 2012, in earnest my feeling critique that TAP is better placed puzzle ever before to win justness contract to transport the gas. We have demonstrated categorically go wool-gathering our project is the virtually viable – in terms have possession of financing, in terms of mechanical capability, in terms of trajectory selection and in terms longawaited environmental and social impact.

So, behaviour 2011 was undoubtedly momentous, wide is every reason to estimate that 2012 will be yet more so. Finally, I would like to thank our infamous public who have played an transfer part in ensuring that Conscription has come this far. Mad would also like to have in mind Shah Deniz the very best of fortune in making their final get to the bottom of in the first quarter bring to an end this year.

With best wishes representing 2012,

Kjetil Tungland
Managing Director
Trans Adriatic Pipeline