Connecting Europe Facility - ENERGY

Reverse Flow TENP – Studies

7.1.3-0013-ELIT-S-M-16

Part of Project of Common Interest no 7.1.3

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Action was part of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline Project (TAP), a project of common interest (PCI 7.1.3 "Gas pipeline from to Italy via and the Adriatic Sea") consisting of the construction of a 773-km pipeline from the Turkish/Greek border connecting with the Italian natural gas transmission system, Crossing Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea and landing near San Foca in Italy. TAP will transport natural gas produced by the Shah Deniz II development in Azerbaijan to southern Italy and other intermediate destinations.

The Action consisted of multiple trial trench investigations and rescue excavation activities as a result of the trial cuts or from unknown chance finds that were identified during the ground- breaking construction activities, in the Greek regions of Kavala, , , , , , , , and along the route of the pipeline.

The objective of the Action was the full and complete clearance of all cultural heritage issues that arose or might occur along the proposed pipeline route in Greece, compliant with Host Government Agreement (HGA) memorandums of Understanding (MOU) between TAP and Ministry of Culture (MOC) and the Ephorates, National Laws and project Cultural Heritage Management Plan.

The objective of the Action was 100% achieved in accordance with grant agreement in force with the full and complete clearance of all cultural heritage issues, with the necessary release letters to construction from the competent authorities for all of the sites in compliance with the cultural heritage law and MOU agreements. The Action was achieved with the release of the sites for construction with minimal delays to the construction activities, and antiquities have come to light in several sites that greatly enrich the archaeological map of the area of the project and widen the perspectives of local archaeological research in the region.

A total of 518 unknown chance finds were uncovered from the monitoring of all of the construction work from the start of the construction phase of the project in June 2016, with 453 found during the period of the Action and a further 10 after the Action ended. In total 166 trial trench investigations (Activity 1) and 392 rescue investigations (Activity 2) were undertaken during the construction period of the Action.

The overall duration of the Action was 29 months. The completed Action has contributed to the implementation of the project of common interest No. 7.1.3 and has contributed greatly to the understanding of the archaeology and the cultural heritage landscape in Northern Greece.

Update: 27/01/2020