BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26
By Anastasiya Savchenko – Trend:
Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), the project implemented jointly with Azerbaijan, has turned Turkey into a key country to ensure the EU’s energy security. Turkish expert Salihe Kaya told Trend.
The expert stressed that TANAP is very important and strategic in nature not only for Turkey and Azerbaijan, but also for Europe.
"The implementation of TANAP was one of the important energy projects for Ankara as Turkey has become one of the important players in the global energy market thanks to this project," Kaya said.
"As is known, Europe intends to reduce energy dependence on Russia and for this purpose it will increase the purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US," Kaya added.
The expert also emphasized that the EU imported 66 billion cubic meters of LNG in 2019. The import volumes of the US LNG may reach 71 billion cubic meters in 2020.
"Moreover, the EU will gradually reduce the import of natural gas from Russia, which, accordingly, will lead to a shortage of gas," Kaya noted.
The expert also drew attention that despite Turkey is not producing natural gas, its geographical location enables it to become a key country in the EU’s energy security.
"In accordance with the analytical data International Energy Agency, natural gas production will increase by 40 percent in 2040, which will entail a decrease in gas prices," Kaya said. “Presently, if 3.9 trillion cubic meters of gas is produced annually, then 5.9 trillion cubic meters of gas will be produced in 2040.”
"Today, Europe uses renewable energy sources,” the expert added. “If gas prices fall, it will be forced to purchase more natural gas and such countries as Azerbaijan should remember this."
The opening ceremony of the Phase 1 of TANAP will be held in Ipsala district of Turkey’s Edirne province on Nov. 30, 2019.
In this district, near the Greek border, TANAP is connected to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), through which natural gas from Azerbaijan will be supplied to the European countries.
TANAP's Phase 0 was launched on June 12, 2018 in Turkey’s Eskisehir province. The commercial gas has been supplied to Turkey since late June 2018.
The volume of gas transportation to Turkey via TANAP has reached 3.08 billion cubic meters since the commercial gas has been supplied from June 30, 2018, through the end of October 2019.
The initial capacity of TANAP, which is the main segment of the Southern Gas Corridor, is 16 billion cubic meters of gas.
Around six billion cubic meters of this gas will be supplied to Turkey while the remaining volume - to Europe. After the completion of the TAP construction, gas will be supplied to Europe in early 2020.
The share distribution of TANAP shareholders is as follows: Southern Gas Corridor CJSC - 51 percent, SOCAR Turkey Enerji - 7 percent, Botas - 30 percent, BP - 12 percent.
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