Development of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is progressing without delays, and first gas is still expected to be delivered to the European market by 2020, Azerbaijan's energy minister Natig Aliyev said.
He said this was despite the decline in oil prices.
The TAP will stretch for 878 km, starting from Kipoi on the Turkey/Greece border and landing in southern Italy. It will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe.
Under the terms of the project, fines are envisaged for those parties that do not fulfil the agreements, the minister stressed, adding that it was therefore in everyone's interest that the project is carried out in a timely way.
Aliyev made the remarks in the course of a meeting with the CEO of Italian tubes provider Tenaris, Paolo Rocca, according to a statement from the Azerbaijan's energy ministry on October 13.
Tenaris is looking to benefit from opportunities arising from joint projects that are being developed between Italy and Azerbaijan, the statement said.