BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec.2
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The European Union (EU) can hail the completion of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) as start of opening of the Southern Gas Corridor, the US expert on Central Asia Bruce Pannier told Trend.
He made the remark on the occasion of opening of TANAP-Europe connection on Nov.30.
“The completion of construction of the TANAP project is a major event for European energy security as it really marks the start of realizing the EU’s Southern Gas Corridor project. TANAP will connect to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), bringing a new source of gas to Greece, Albania, and Italy. The additional gas from the SGC not only gives the EU insurance against disruption from other gas suppliers, it also gives the EU extra leverage in bargaining with those other gas suppliers,” said the expert.
Pannier noted that for Azerbaijan, TANAP’s completion opens a new export route for its gas. Azerbaijan will supply all the 16 billion cubic meters TANAP will carry during the first stage and Azerbaijan’s gas exports will continue to grow as TANAP expands.
As for Turkey, it gets an additional source of gas, but also solidifies its place as a transit country in the SGC, said the expert, adding that TANAP also provides another area of common interest for EU-Turkish ties.
“Europe, of course gets, more gas from a new import route that serves southern EU countries like Italy and Greece, as well as EU candidate country Albania. The EU can also hail TANAP’s completion as the start of opening the SGC,” he added.
The opening ceremony of the TANAP-Europe connection was held on Nov. 30, 2019 in Ipsala, Edirne province of Turkey.
In this area, near the Greek border, TANAP is connected to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), through which natural gas from Azerbaijan will be delivered to European countries.
Opening ceremony of TANAP's Phase 0 took place on June 12, 2018, in the Turkish province of Eskisehir, and commercial gas deliveries to Turkey began in late June 2018.
The volume of gas transportation to Turkey via TANAP has reached 3.08 billion cubic meters (bcm) since the start of commercial gas supplies on June 30, 2018 as of late 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 Trans Adriatic Pipeline (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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