In Meledugno (Lecce), more precisely under the beach of San Basilio (San Foca), the construction works for the microtunnel of the TAP pipeline have been completed. This pipeline will transport natural gas from Arzerbaijan to Italy via Greece and Albania. The tunnel extends up to 1.540 meters passing under the beach and it has been excavated using a Herrenknecht AVND 2000 cutter (a 26-m long tunnelling machine). Thanks to this technology, which is particularly respectful of the environment, the works have not affected neither the landscape nor the tourism and economic activities in the area.