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Azerbaijan can also supply Iraqi gas to Europe

Oil&Gas Materials 13 April 2015 22:00 (UTC +04:00)
We have recently witnessed the intensification of Azerbaijan's relations with some countries of the Arab world. In particular, the matter rests in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iraq.
Azerbaijan can also supply Iraqi gas to Europe

Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

We have recently witnessed the intensification of Azerbaijan's relations with some countries of the Arab world. In particular, the matter rests in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iraq.

Azerbaijan's rapprochement with the OPEC member-states looks very symbolic. Iraq and the UAE, and especially Saudi Arabia, have great significance in OPEC, being the most influential countries in the list of member-states.

Azerbaijan is the initiator of the Southern Gas Corridor large energy project, which will be the first alternative source of gas supplies to Europe. Azerbaijan continues strengthening its credibility on the world map of the energy-exporting countries and, consequently, developing its relations with the "giants of the industry".

President SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) Rovnag Abdullayev's visit to Iraq should be stressed among all recent contacts. The northern regions of the country, inhabited by Kurds, are rich in gas fields (the reserves are estimated at about 2.89 trillion cubic meters, accounting for 89 percent of the gas reserves of Iraq) and border with Turkey.

It is worth noting that at present, little gas is extracted in the region, since there are a number of reasons, delaying the development of fields. The technological factor and the infrastructure are among them.

SOCAR has rich experience in the development of gas fields and the development of appropriate infrastructure. It can help Iraq to supply gas to Turkey and from there to the European markets through TANAP and TAP.

Such developments will suit virtually all sides. Azerbaijan will be able to implement very profitable energy projects in Iraq. Iraq itself, exhausted by a long war, will receive multimillion-dollar investments, technologies and the ability to sell gas at one of the most promising markets in the world. Taking into account the growing needs of the country, Turkey will receive another source of gas for self-sufficiency. Europe will get more "blue fuel", in which it is interested.

Of course, it is necessary to conduct much work both politically and economically to implement such a scenario. But today Azerbaijan is a real mediator which can also supply Iraqi gas to Europe.
Edited by CN

follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov

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