Local landowners and users

In order to secure the land rights required for the pipeline, TAP identified the legal owners and registered the parcels of land affected by the project. This included land along the pipeline route or required for above ground installations, such as block valve stations.   

TAP contractors visited the affected landowners and users in person to establish a written record of assets. TAP paid the compensations to the relevant owners and users before the start of construction works. Where direct payment to the landowners and users on the basis of relevant agreements was not possible, TAP transferred the respective compensations into an escrow account. 

In Greece:

Regarding the outstanding cases, where compensation has been deposited to escrow account (General deposits), a court recognition process can apply (provisions in art 26 & 27 of Law 2882/2001), according to Art 168 of Law 4001/2011. For more information, you can contact TAP by phone at + 30 213 0104500 or by email at tapgreece@tap-ag.com.

To be noted that Land Access rights for the construction of TAP pipeline in Greece have been established on the basis of the Host Government Agreement (ratified with Law 4217/2013) and Law 4001/2011.

In Italy:

TAP visited all the owners and users of the land involved for the initial drafting of the state of the sites, paying the related compensation before starting the works.

If it was not possible to pay the compensation to the owners and users of the land on the basis of compensation proposals and amicable agreements, the Company paid the amounts into a guarantee account in compliance with the provisions of the easement ministerial decrees of and temporary land occupation.

At the end of the restoration activities following the construction, the final drafting of the state of the sites was carried out, which made it possible to calculate the final compensation in compliance with the land hand-over report drawn up for this purpose in compliance with the provisions of standard Italian practice referred to in to the Presidential Decree 327/2001 Expropriation Consolidated Law, art. 24, paragraph 3.

To this end, TAP contacted all owners and users of the affected land to assign the final compensation. Anyone who has not yet come into contact with TAP is invited to call +39 0832 835713 (secretariat) or write to the following email address: tapitalia@tap-ag.com.

In Albania:

Ιn cases where compensation has not been paid upfront due to legal or other issues (deceased or absentee landowners, registration property issues, etc.), the compensation amount is deposited into an escrow account. 

To access funds deposited into the escrow account, PAPs (Project Affected Persons) are required to present to TAP the same documents that were required for all other PAPs, including for example and as the case may be: 

• οwnership certificate issued by the cadastral office, including updated immovable property cartela, fragment of cadastral map;
• confirmation from the bank on the account number and IBAN;
• a copy of the identity card;
• family certificate;
• inheritance act (when deceased landowners); 
• verification for having no active court cases, no seizure orders from bailiffs. 

For more information, you can contact TAP via phone + 355 (0)69 6098188 or via email GrievanceAlbania@tap-ag.com.
To be noted that Land Access rights for the construction of TAP pipeline and relevant compensation packages, have been established by relevant Decisions of the Council of Ministers (published in the Official Gazettes and periodical press including any amendments) based on the Host Government Agreement (ratified by the Law No 116/2013, date 15.04.2013).

TAP developed a robust and transparent methodology to calculate compensations based on market value and associated costs. This involved local real estate agencies and agronomists to assess the land and crop replacement values. 

TAP purchased the land required for compressor stations, block valve stations or other installations above the ground. Compensation was paid for land, structures or developments on land and any standing annual or perennial crops at replacement value.

Land required for temporary facilities, such as pipe storage yards and construction camps was leased by TAP for approximately two years and returned to owners fully reinstated with no restrictions on future cultivation. Compensation was paid for loss of agricultural production during construction for any standing annual or perennial crops at replacement value. 

Land located within the pipeline right of way was leased during the construction phase in accordance with applicable law. Depending on each case, compensation was paid for ownership restrictions, for building restrictions, for land leased during the construction phase and for loss of agricultural production. 

In some cases during construction, TAP needed to cross a part of a land parcel that was not necessary for the project construction. This could result in some sections of land that could be too small to make cultivation economically worthwhile. This is known as ‘orphan land’.  

TAP reviewed each case on an individual basis and, where necessary, compensation was paid in the same ways as for whole parcels of land.

Where land was cultivated by a land user who was not the land owner, both parties received compensation. In other words, compensation was paid to the owner for easement and leasing and to the user for loss of agricultural production. Similarly, where municipal or other publicly owned land was used by a private farmer, the land user received compensation as well.