The submission of its Scoping Report to the Greek authorities comes after similar moves in Albania and Italy earlier this year and will follow the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) guidelines, recognised as the benchmark for international best practice.
Submission of the Scoping Report represents an additional voluntary activity beyond the requirements of the Greek Environmental Impact Assessment process. The provision of the Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIA) to the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change is the first formal, legal step in the process and is planned by the end of July 2011. Following verification that the PEIA contains all necessary information, the Ministry will distribute the document to the appropriate authorities for their consideration and comments.
The result of extensive route refinement studies undertaken between 2010 and 2011, the Scoping Report provides a description of TAP's preferred route, including potential environmental and social impacts and their mitigation measures. In particular, special consideration has been given to the avoidance of sensitive natural habitats.
The pipeline will start at a tie-in point with the existing gas network near Nea Mesimvria in Central Macedonia and will extend approximately 185 km to the Greek/Albanian border, crossing into Albania northwest of Dipotamia. The route will cross the regions of Central and West Macedonia and will pass through a total of eleven municipalities; Chalkidona, Alexandreia, Naousa, Edessa, Skydra, Amyntaio, Pella, Eordea, Kastoria, Nestorio and Orestida.
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Once the PEIA is submitted an additional disclosure procedure, as required by Greek and European legislation, will then be performed.
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