Engaging with communities
Trans Adriatic Pipeline is committed to open dialogue and building trusted and lasting relationships with the communities and stakeholders along the pipeline route.
TAP has been consulting with stakeholders since the earliest developmental stages of the project.
We are committed to establishing open, mutually beneficial dialogue and developing lasting relationships and trust with stakeholders. In doing so, we follow international standards and industry best practice.
TAP has developed Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs) for each host country, aligned with the requirements of national laws and regulations and with specific community needs, supported by TAP’s dedicated teams, locally recruited, to lead our engagement activities.
Publicly available, the SEPs describe measures such as the different outreach tools that we use to inform affected communities and the public of community engagement activities and decisions.
TAP is always open to and available for dialogue, aiming to provide accurate and transparent information.
Environmental protection
Delivering on our commitments
TAP conducted inclusive consultations in Greece, Albania and Italy throughout the construction of the pipeline to provide stakeholders with opportunities to express their views.
Over 1,700 public meetings were held during various stages of our Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), with local authorities, regulatory bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and affected communities before the route was finalised. This included consultation on land easement and acquisition activities in each of the three host countries.
Affected households were consulted on a one-to-one basis before and during construction, and when land was reinstated and handed back to the owners. Additional meetings were held with households regarding livelihood restoration programmes to explain entitlements and options for assistance. An estimated 130,000 individual meetings have taken place across the three host countries.
TAP has also conducted land census and asset inventories and detailed one-on-one consultations with affected people to collect relevant land, assets and livelihood data.
Engaging with wider society
TAP is also committed to engaging with members of civil society who have an interest in the pipeline, including NGOs. We collaborate with several NGOs aiming to ensure that our project is both sustainable and beneficial to the neighbouring communities.
We are open and available to constructive and meaningful dialogue with organisations with an interest in TAP’s operations. We also provide accurate, transparent and up-to-date information about the pipeline so that that the facts are clearly understood.
-
Case study: strengthening property rights in Albania
In Albania, real estate transactions can have a negative impact on the population’s livelihood and the country’s economic development due to a lack of formal land ownership rights.
TAP acknowledged this challenge during the project planning, land easement and acquisition phase. In 2013, in order to assist communities in relation to property rights issues, TAP started a Cadastre Update and Improvement Programme. This was carried out in conjunction with the relevant authorities with the support of local contractors.
The programme collected all required documentation, conducted field surveys and measurements, generated maps and completed a large-scale community and household stakeholder engagement campaign. TAP covered all expenses related to the process.
Approximately 34,000 properties have been formally registered under the programme, including nearly 24,000 not directly affected by the pipeline construction work. The cadastre work involved the first full formal registration of three villages, supporting residents’ ability to formalise real estate transactions.
-
Case study: Cultural heritage – preserving the Baba Bajrami ceremonial shrine in Albania
While screening the pipeline route for socially-sensitive issues, TAP was made aware of the Baba Bajrami ceremonial shrine near the village of Tozhar in Polican, Albania. The grave is a religious site for the Muslim Bektashi community and is classified as a ‘high importance’ cultural heritage site for the locals.
TAP engaged with local community leaders and representatives of the Bektashi to understand the site history and visiting practices. TAP’s archaeology team studied, surveyed and documented the site and ruins around the grave. A site-specific construction plan was developed to preserve and avoid disturbing the shrine.
The grave itself is positioned on a hilltop, making the preservation task very challenging. As such, further geological studies were carried out, resulting in TAP rerouting the pipeline.
During the construction phase of the pipeline, continuous monitoring and slope stability measures were undertaken as part of the preservation efforts and unrestricted access to the religious site was maintained, ensuring the continuity of religious rituals.
-
Case study: protecting a resident’s property in Albania
Pre-construction site investigations near the village of Ullinjas in Berat, Albania revealed a residential building being constructed by one of the villagers as a secondary house. At the time of the Livelihood Restoration Plan census and assets inventory cut-off the building was not being built or registered.
TAP developed a site-specific construction plan to mitigate both short and long-term impacts arising from the construction of the pipeline. Structural surveys of the house were undertaken to document the pre-construction conditions and stability of the building and its foundations.
TAP initiated early engagement with the owner and continued to engage with him throughout the construction and post-construction phases. The unfinished building was used to store agricultural equipment and supplies.
During the construction phase, vibration, noise and dust levels were monitored by TAP personnel on site to ensure minimal impact on the building integrity.
Upon completion of the pipeline construction in the area, TAP upgraded the access road leading to the property and provided the owner with livelihood support in addition to the Livelihood Assistance and Transitional Support programme, which the owner is also participant of.
Case study: Cultural heritage – unearthing and preserving a 29-tonne ceramic kiln in Greece
In February 2017, while pipeline constructions works were in full swing in the Greek region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, about 70km from TAP’s connection to TANAP at the Greek-Turkish borders, a significant archaeological finding was unearthed: a 29-tonne ceramic kiln.
According to the assessment of Marina Tasaklaki, archaeologist of the local Ephorate of Antiquities, the site of the finding was a late Roman/early Byzantine pottery workshop.
In addition, the kiln itself was described as "rare," given the infrequent occurrence of such findings, i.e. objects used by artisans from that particular era.
Given the combined factors of sheer size and significant scientific value, the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports asked TAP to transfer the kiln to the nearby archaeological museum.
TAP Greece and its contractor Spiecapag addressed the Ministry’s request to expose, release, lift, and transport the massive kiln to the archaeological museum of Komotini. The operation took the better part of eight months and the kiln was finally delivered in late September 2018.
It has now found its new home and rightful place at the museum’s courtyard, where visitors can see and study it up close and personal.
-
Case study: keeping livestock calm during construction in Greece
Near the village of Chalkero in Greece, a farmer’s animals were located less than 30 meters from the right of way. The construction of the pipeline meant that his sheep were unable to access the closest available stable pasture. The noise resulting from the construction activities taking place in rocky terrain could also impact the livestock.
TAP oversaw the case with the help of the Aristotle University’s Veterinary School. Experts from the school visited the farmer and advised him on how to manage his livestock during construction to mitigate the impact and developed a livelihood support program that TAP fully implemented.
-
Case study: Cultural heritage – unearthing and preserving a 29-tonne ceramic kiln in Greece
In February 2017, while pipeline constructions works were in full swing in the Greek region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, about 70km from TAP’s connection to TANAP at the Greek-Turkish borders, a significant archaeological finding was unearthed: a 29-tonne ceramic kiln.
According to the assessment of Marina Tasaklaki, archaeologist of the local Ephorate of Antiquities, the site of the finding was a late Roman/early Byzantine pottery workshop.
In addition, the kiln itself was described as "rare," given the infrequent occurrence of such findings, i.e. objects used by artisans from that particular era.
Given the combined factors of sheer size and significant scientific value, the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports asked TAP to transfer the kiln to the nearby archaeological museum.
TAP Greece and its contractor Spiecapag addressed the Ministry’s request to expose, release, lift, and transport the massive kiln to the archaeological museum of Komotini. The operation took the better part of eight months and the kiln was finally delivered in late September 2018.
It has now found its new home and rightful place at the museum’s courtyard, where visitors can see and study it up close and personal. Read the full story here.
