Italy’s Saipem has bagged an order to lay the subsea Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) that will bring Azeri gas into Italy, the oil contractor said, Reuters reported. The company, jointly controlled by Italian oil major Eni, and state lender CDP, said work on the 105km section running from Albania to southern Italy would begin this year.

Although no financial details were provided, two analysts who asked not to be named said the contract was worth around $225m. In addition, other experts have expressed concern that with order books under pressure the Italian contractor might struggle to meet results forecasts.