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Azerbaijan’s role as energy supplier discussed in UK parliament

Oil&Gas Materials 19 November 2014 12:18 (UTC +04:00)
The current and future role of Azerbaijan as an energy supply and transit country was discussed during a debate in the UK parliament, organized by the European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS).
Azerbaijan’s role as energy supplier discussed in UK parliament

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19

By Aygun Badalova - Trend:

The current and future role of Azerbaijan as an energy supply and transit country was discussed during a debate in the UK parliament, organized by the European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS), says a report disseminated by the PRWEB Online Press Release Distribution Service on November 19.

The debate was hosted by UK MP David Hamilton.

Hamilton said that the biggest question for the UK today is security of supply.

"It has become apparent that there is the potential for blackouts across the UK. Renewable energy technology has a role to play, but the public cannot wait for these systems to be constructed," he said.

"When I visited Azerbaijan earlier this year, I became interested by the way in which the BP-led Shah Deniz Consortium is developing its terminals and constructing the Southern Corridor to bring gas to the UK," Hamilton said adding that the UK public expects continuity of supply.

Jack Pegoraro, UK Public Affairs Manager, TEAS, said the situation in Ukraine, and civil war in Libya, have also demonstrated that there is a need for a diversity of sources to satisfy EU energy requirements.

"It is important to recognise the significance of Azerbaijan as an energy supplier. Construction of the Southern Corridor will also further increase the significance of the country," he said.

Big political decisions need to be made, and we need a great deal of courage to ensure long-term energy supply security, according to Andy Sawford MP, Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government.

"My recent visit to Ukraine demonstrated that this is an important challenge that needs to be addressed, as EU energy supply and security is at risk. It is good to hear what is happening in Azerbaijan, as the groundbreaking on the Southern Corridor demonstrates that a new source of energy that will soon come on stream. An energy mix is necessary, and we need to change the way that the EU energy market operates," Sawford said.

Azerbaijan's gas supplies to Europe will open the "Southern Gas Corridor", which will allow Europe to diversify its sources of hydrocarbon supplies and boost energy security, and on the other hand give Azerbaijan a new market - Europe.

In order to ensure the gas supplies to the new market, a final investment decision was made Dec. 17, 2013 on the Stage 2 of development of the Shah Deniz field.

Some 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) of the field's total gas output will go to Europe, while 6 bcm will be annually delivered to Turkey.

The gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of the field's development, will be exported to Turkey and the European markets by means of expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

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