Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25
By Sabina Ahmadova - Trend:
Azerbaijan's role in ensuring the future of EU energy security was discussed in Manchester, UK at a breakfast briefing as part of the Labour Party Annual Conference, organized by The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS).
"The two senior politicians present, Tom Greatrex, Shadow Energy Minister, and Graham Stringer, Energy and Climate Change Committee Member, were already well-versed in this vital and complex issue," TEAS told Trend on Sept. 25.
Representatives from Shell and the GMB Union also attended the briefing, TEAS said.
"The topics covered included the emotive issues of shale gas fracking, renewable energy, the role of inter-connectors, nuclear power and the direction of EU policy," according to the message.
TEAS UK Public Affairs Manager Jack Pegoraro, explaining the background to current pan-European energy crisis, said it is necessary to understand that nearly half of the UK's electricity is generated from natural gas.
"UK production is falling rapidly, and has fallen by 30 percent during the past three years," Pegoraro said. "Already the National Grid is predicting that there will be blackouts this winter as the UK's ageing power stations provide insufficient electricity to meet demand and experience unscheduled shutdowns."
He went on to say that theUkraine situation has placed the EU's energy insecurity in the spotlight.
"Russia provides about 30 percent of the EU's gas supply, and its policies demonstrate that diversity of supply is essential. Even though no Russian gas actually reaches the UK, any hike in EU gas prices automatically impacts energy prices in the UK," Pegoraro added.
In December 2013, the then foreign secretary, William Hague visited Azerbaijan to witness the signing of a massive $45 billion worth 2000-mile gas pipeline deal between the government of Azerbaijan and the BP-led Shah Deniz Consortium.
"This will see Azerbaijani Caspian gas from the Shah Deniz II field being piped to an interconnector in Italy, making the proposed Southern Energy Corridor into a reality," TEAS said, adding that this led the former labour prime minister, Tony Blair to recently agree to become an advisor for the Shah Deniz Consortium.
"Development of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) will cross the territory of seven countries," according to the message.
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