TAP Pipeline Route Demining Operation Under Way

TIRANA, July 28

A demining operation has been launched since ten days in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) route by EOD team from the Armed Forces. It includes an area from Seman village to the city of Korca, southeastern Albania. This is a 211km long portion with a width of 40 meters that will be cleared from unexploded ordnance.
There is no mined area within the Albanian territory, but TAP project requires absolute safety. Therefore the team from the Armed Forces will check the entire route with detectors with a six-meter baseline. So far, the first five km have been completed.
“It is not possible to tell a specific day for the conclusion of the operation, but we will try to complete it within the deadline,” commander of the operation Eduard Kaloshi said.
He added that the contractor should not wait for the operation to end.
“We are going to complete a specific section and certify it as a clean area. Afterwards, the contractor will start the work in that section while we are going to continue with the remained part of the route,” Kaloshi said.
Speaking about the possible risks of the operation, the commander said that there are specific procedures. “If these procedures are followed there will be no risk,” he stated.
The contractor company has previously undertaken an inspection of the area and drafted a map with the more and less dangerous sites. So far no mine or any other dangerous object has been found.

News Source: TCh

Photo Credit:  Armed Forces