Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.12
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The implementation of the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline project (TANAP) is going on rapidly, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said.
He added that the Southern Gas Corridor, which includes TANAP as well, is a very important project for Europe, Anadolu agency reported on Feb.12.
Although Ankara is seeking alternative energy projects, TANAP is one of its priorities, according to Yildiz.
"There are no political and technical problems for the implementation of the TANAP project," Turkish minister added.
The preparation of the right-of-way for the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline project (TANAP) was completed in Turkey on Feb.2.
A right-of-way is a strip of land over which the pipeline will be laid.
The preparation of the right-of-way for the TANAP project was to be completed on March 15, however, as a result of speeding up the relevant work, it was finalized ahead of the schedule.
The TANAP project envisages the transportation of gas of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field from the Georgian-Turkish border to the western borders of Turkey. TANAP's initial capacity is expected to reach 16 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
Around six billion cubic meters of this gas will be delivered to Turkey and the rest of the volume to Europe. Turkey will obtain gas in 2018. The gas will be supplied to Europe in early 2020 after the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is constructed. The project's cost is estimated at $10-$11 billion.
Contracts for the supply of pipes for the construction of TANAP were signed in Turkey's Ankara city on Oct.14 with six Turkish and one Chinese company.
Turkey's Mannesmann-Noksel-Erciyas and Umran-Emek consortiums, and Toscelik Profil ve Sac Endustrisi company, as well as the Chinese contractor Baosteel Europe won the tender for the supply of pipes for the TANAP project.
All the companies that will participate in the construction and supply of the TANAP project in Turkey are exempt from the VAT.
Edited by SI
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