Azerbaijan, Baku, June 5 / Trend A. Badalova/
U.S strongly supports the realization of the Southern Gas Corridor project, Deputy Assistant Secretary Energy Diplomacy at U.S. Department of State Amos Hochstein said at the Caspian Oil & Gas 2013 conference in Baku.
"Opening of the Southern Gas Corridor will change the energy map of our continent," he said.
According to Hochstein, the Southern Gas Corridor will be an important link for delivering Caspian gas, initially from the Shah Deniz field, then from Turkmenistan and hopefully from Northern Iraq to Europe.
"The U.S will support either pipeline to be selected by the Shah Deniz consortium. We believe that the pipeline which is selected will diversify energy supplies to Europe," he said.
The Southern Corridor is one of the EU's priority energy projects aimed at diversifying the routes and sources of energy supply, thereby increasing secure delivery. Gas to be produced during the second phase of the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field development is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects.
Currently, the Shah Deniz consortium considers two options for its gas transportation to Europe - TAP and Nabucco West. The final decision on the pipeline route will be made in June, 2013.