Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 19 / Trend A.Badalova /
A new pipeline which will transport gas from the Caspian region will ensure gas supplies to Europe in the long term prospect, the international service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation swissinfo.ch reported with the reference to the spokesperson for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy Marianne Zünd.
"The pipeline project will serve to ensure supplies of gas to Europe in the long term prospect. The new route will provide us with an alternative compared to gas from Russia," Zünd said.
Currently two pipeline projects within the Southern Gas Corridor - Nabucco West and TAP (Trans Adriatic Pipeline) are competing for transporting Azerbaijani gas to the European markets.
Gas which will be produced during the second stage of the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field development is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects.
The consortium of the Shah Deniz field development will make its final decision on a pipeline route in June, 2013.
According to Zünd, gas will have an important role in Switzerland for a long time, as in the rest part of Europe.
"We don't want to increase the consumption of gas," insists Zünd. "But we do need to continue guaranteeing supply of this energy source that covers 12 per cent of Swiss need," Zünd 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 which will be produced during the second stage of the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field development is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects.