Greece will host the largest part of one of the most important energy projects that are taking place at a global level, said Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) AG who heads the projects at a press conference on Wednesday.
The press conference was attended by all three heads of Greece’s northern prefectures, Theodoros Karypidis of Western Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas of Central Macedonia, and Christos Metios of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
‘’Many years ago, very few outside Greece would bet that the country would be the best alternative for the South Corridor. We believed it and our Greek partners did the same,’’ said Rikard Scoufias, TAP Greece Country Manager.
Scoufias said the company will donate 92 utility vehicles to local communities in all three Northern Greek prefectures traversed by the pipeline, the company said on Wednesday during a press conference in Thessaloniki.
The initiative, designed in close collaboration with the government and the competent ministries, is part of TAP’s 32-million-euro social and environmental investment (SEI) program to be implemented across project-affected areas. This investment amounts to 9 million euros, committed for the purchase of 33 ambulances, 22 garbage trucks, 17 forestry vehicles, 14 snow ploughs and 6 civil protection vehicles.
‘’We have an innovative approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The way we chose to approach CSR is neither the easiest nor the fastest thing to do, but it is the right one. When the project is completed, we want people to remember TAP not only as a gas pipeline that brings gas safely to Europe, but also as a good energy pipeline that benefits Greece and local communities. To do this, cooperation and initiatives are needed in four key areas: education, training, livelihoods, quality of life and environmental protection,’’ he added.
He also stressed the originality and significance of the approach TAP adopted in drafting its social and environmental investments program which begins and ends with local societies, in the context of TAP’s pursuit to invest in initiatives that meet the actual needs of local communities hosting the pipeline.
