Baku, Azerbaijan, May 31
By Samir Ali - Trend:
The Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) is a global and historic project implemented under the leadership of Azerbaijan, the country’s MP Tahir Karimli told Trend May 31.
“Considering that this project alone covers investments worth $40 billion, one can understand how important it is,” he noted. “This project is a guarantee of the future of Azerbaijan. The SGC after full commissioning will benefit Azerbaijan for decades. The project will contribute not only to the energy security of Europe, but also to the national and economic security of Azerbaijan. At the same time, thanks to Azerbaijan’s merits, the gas of the Caspian region gets access to the European markets.”
He added that the SGC is also a political project.
“This project strengthens Azerbaijan’s relations with Georgia and Turkey even more,” Karimli said. “It strengthens Europe’s relations not only with Azerbaijan, but even with Turkey.”
The MP noted that with the implementation of such projects as the SGC, the world started to realize the importance of Azerbaijan.
Having such opportunities, Azerbaijan wants to solve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully, he said.
The official opening ceremony of the Southern Gas Corridor was held in the Sangachal terminal, Baku, May 29.
The Southern Gas Corridor, worth over $40 billion, is considered as one of the priority energy projects for the EU, which strives for diversification of gas sources. The project envisages the transportation of gas from the Caspian region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.
At an initial stage, the gas to be produced in the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage.
As part of the Shah Deniz Stage 2, 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).