Baku, Azerbaijan, May 14
By Aygun Badalova - Trend:
Certain statements by Greece's representatives with regard to the realization of the project on Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, meant for the sale of Azerbaijan's gas to Europe, are incorrect, the Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev told Trend on May 14.
He said Greece's high level participation in the first meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Consultative Council in Baku on February 12, and the statements that they not only support, but also stay true to all the previous agreements, are sufficient.
"TAP is a European project. And I believe Europe, the EU should exert a corresponding impact on some issues, if they arise," said the minister.
"Certain statements by anyone have no significance, as we have internationally recognized documents," he added.
Minister Aliyev noted that TAP is a consortium, which has long concluded a corresponding agreement with the Greek government, adding that Greece's government, in turn, has similar agreements with Albania and Italy.
"The TAP project, like all the other projects, is advancing," he said.
"Here in Azerbaijan works are proceeding at a rapid pace, we are ahead of all schedules and programs both on Shah Deniz, i.e. drilling of wells, construction of platforms, supply of pipes, etc., and on the project for expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline," said the minister.
The Southern Gas Corridor will allow Europe to diversify its hydrocarbon sources and strengthen energy security, and will also allow Azerbaijan to obtain a new market in Europe. Azerbaijan's gas is meant to go first through the Southern Gas Corridor.
As part of ensuring the Azerbaijani gas supply to the European market, a final investment decision was made on Dec. 17, 2013 on the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz offshore gas and condensate field's development.
The gas produced at this field will first go to the European market (10 billion cubic meters), while six billion cubic meters of this gas will be annually delivered to Turkey.
The contract for development of the Shah Deniz offshore field was signed on June 4, 1996. The field's proven reserves are estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas and 240 million metric tons of condensate.
As part of the Stage 2 of the field's development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
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