Caspian Report - Issue: 08 - Fall 2014

the possible delivery of Caspian gas
to destinations such as:
• Austria and Central Europe: natural
gas transported via TAP can
reach the Central European gas hub
in Baumgarten, Austria via the Trans
Austria Gas (TAG) pipeline, using
swaps and reverse flow;
• Germany and France via Switzerland:
using reverse flow through
the TransitGas-TENP pipeline system
(an opportunity currently being
evaluated by the system’s operators);
• United Kingdom: grid operators
Snam Rete Gas and Fluxys have
agreed to develop physical reverse
flow capabilities between Italy and
the UK by interconnecting the gas
markets of Italy, Switzerland, Germany,
the Netherlands and Belgium,
enabling Caspian gas to reach the
UK. 25
In this framework it is clear that a reinforced
junction between Italy and
Central/North-West European gas
markets will be essential to enhance
the potential impact of TAP on the EU
gas security of supply architecture,
particularly in terms of allowing South
to North gas flows.
The TransitGas-TENP pipeline system
-as the only link connecting the main
market zones of North-West Europe
with Italy- has thus the potential to
become a strategic junction between
European gas Hubs.
Along this gas transmission route
connecting the UK and Italy, only the
UK-Interconnector pipeline and the
network in Belgium can currently flow
gas in both directions. The TENP and
TransitGas systems in Germany and
Switzerland as well as the Italian network
to date can move physical flows
from north to south only.
FIGURE 4
The current status of the TransitGas-TENP pipeline system
29
CASPIAN REPORT, FALL 2014
Source: Fluxys (2014).
25.
“See: www.trans-adriatic-pipeline.com