Baku, Azerbaijan, May 29
Trend:
Completion of construction of the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP), through which gas supplies will be carried out to Turkey and Europe, is a very important and significant event, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
He made the remarks in his address to participants of the ceremony of commissioning the first stage of the Southern Gas Corridor project, which implies the supply of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, in Baku on May 29. Turkish Ambassador Erkan Ozoral read out the message.
"Dear President Ilham Aliyev and participants of the ceremony, following the implementation of such projects as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, as well as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars transport corridor, TANAP gas pipeline can be considered a project that will change the future of the region. TANAP is an example of regional cooperation," Erdogan said.
Erdogan, in his address further noted that after the first gas is pumped into the TANAP system, an opening ceremony of the gas pipeline will take place in the Turkish province of Eskishehir on June 12.
Erdogan added that organization of organize the opening ceremony of the TANAP pipeline in Turkey will be an honor for Turkey.
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 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 construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).