Adriatic-Ionian gas pipeline candidate for list of projects of common interest, passing through BiH

European Commissioner for Climate and Energy Policy Arias Canete said that the "Adriatic-Ionian gas pipeline project is a candidate for inclusion on the list of projects of common interest, and that the project selection process is underway and the final list should be published by the end of the year, writes the BiH news agency Patria (NAP).

After Member of the European Parliament Tonino Picula asked for the European Commission's position on the Adriatic-Ionian gas pipeline, Canete said that if the Adriatic-Ionian gas pipeline project is designated as a project of common interest, it can apply for grants for studies within the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and for support from financial instruments in the gas sector.

- Projects of common interest with significant positive externalities (such as security of supply) and which are not commercially viable may also be eligible for funding under the CEF in the form of grants for works - said Canete, adding that energy infrastructure projects also meet the conditions for support from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).

The IAP would connect the gas flows of Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) as an integral part of the Southern Gas Corridor and a supply route for Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian basin to the EU.

Along with the LNG terminal on the island of Krk, the Adriatic-Ionian gas pipeline, with a planned length of 511 km and a transport capacity of 5 billion m³ per year, is a key strategic project that reflects a coherent approach to energy security policy in which regional, national, and European interests are met simultaneously.

Picula: Adriatic-Ionian gas pipeline a very important project  

MEP Picula spoke about the importance of this project back in February this year at an inter-parliamentary seminar of EU member states and Western Balkan countries on energy in Turkey. With amendments, he advocated for its inclusion in the Adriatic-Ionian strategy.

- The fact that it is also on the list of projects of interest to the Energy Community, a list of key projects for improving gas supply security in Europe, speaks to the significance of the project - said Picula, adding that this is why he is optimistic about the designation of the IAP as a project of common interest, which would enable access to significant sources of funding that could accelerate its realization, writes Patria.