Azerbaijan, Baku, 30 May / Trend E. Ismailov /
Preparation for the implementation of the project for expansion of the South Caucasus gas pipeline and the second stage of development of the Azerbaijani offshore gas condensate field Shah Deniz is nearing completion, head of SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) Rovnag Abdullayev said at a meeting with a French delegation which arrived in Baku to participate in the second World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.
During the meeting representatives of the French delegation including the Vice-President of the Azerbaijani-French Friendship Group of the National Assembly of France, Jean-Luc Reitzer, praised Azerbaijan's role in European energy security.
During the meeting the head of SOCAR noted the importance of Azerbaijan in the energy security of Europe. According to him the decision on the route for gas supplies to Europe will be made in the coming month.
Also according to Abdullev, the joint Azerbaijani-Turkish Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline project (TANAP) has received international recognition.
The TANAP project envisages gas transportation from the Shah Deniz field to Europe via Turkey. The initial capacity of the pipeline is expected to reach 16 billion cubic meters per year. Around six billion cubic meters will be delivered to Turkey and the rest to Europe.
Currently, the consortium to develop Shah Deniz is considering two options for gas transportation to Europe - Nabucco West and TAP (Trans Adriatic Pipeline). The final decision on the choice of the pipeline route is expected in June 2013.