Snam could enter the project of Trans Adriatic Pipeline, which will bring Azeri gas to Puglia from 2020, with a 20% share. This is what the CEO of the company that owns most of the Italian gas pipelines said, Carlo Malacarne, in an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the “World Gas Congress” in Paris.
“We are ready to evaluate by acquire a share of up to 20% of the project,” said the manager. Malacarne then explained that gas buyers are signing long-term "ship-or-pay" contracts for Azeri gas, therefore transmission revenues are guaranteed and this paves the way for regulated infrastructure operators such as Snam to enter the project .
The main shareholders of Tap are: Enagas, Fluxys, the latter allied with Snam in other businesses, with shares of 16% and 19% respectively, BP with 20%, Statoil with 20%, Socar with 20% and the Swiss Axpo (5%). The CEO then added that some companies, such as BP or Statoil, may not have a strong interest in remaining in the consortium, should the project mature.
