Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.13
By Aygun Badalova - Trend:
Azerbaijan plays an important role as a facilitator of infrastructure in the Southern Gas Corridor project, Andrej Tibold, analyst at Eurasia Energy Observer told Trend on Feb.13.
With regard to the he first meeting of the Advisory Council of the Southern Gas Corridor project, which was held in Baku on Feb12, Tibold said that the creation of the Council itself shows the importance both the EU and Azerbaijan attach to the Southern Gas Corridor.
"It can serve as a useful additional platform for closer coordination in shaping the Southern Gas Corridor, in which Azerbaijan not only plays an important role as a supplier but also as a facilitator of infrastructure," Tibold said.
He also added that by gradually increasing gas supplies from Azerbaijan, the EU not only diversifies its supplies, but market liquidity in South Eastern Europe, and Turkey benefits from this as well.
"This is good for both suppliers and consumers," Tibold said.
On February 12, Baku hosted the first meeting of the Advisory Board of Southern Gas Corridor, during which the issues of further promotion of the project and the problems that may arise in its implementation were discussed.
The Southern Gas Corridor project envisages the transportation of gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe.
This large project aims at diversifying the routes and sources of energy supply that will enhance energy security of Europe. The Southern Gas Corridor project will ensure Caspian gas supply to the European markets for the first time in history.
At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the second phase of development of Azerbaijani gas condensate Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. At a later stage, other sources may join the project.
The gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of the field's development will be exported to Turkey and to the European markets by means of expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and construction of the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
Around six billion cubic meters of the total volume of gas within the Shah Deniz-2 project will be delivered to Turkey and 10 billion cubic meters to Europe per year.
Aygun Badalova is Trend Agency's staff journalist. Follow her on Twitter:@AygunBadalova