BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec.8
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The Southern Gas Corridor will enhance Europe’s energy security, undisrupted trade and diversification by connecting the continent to new sources of natural gas supplies, the European Commission told Trend.
“The specific role of Azerbaijan was particularly emphasised in the Joint Declaration following the 6th Ministerial meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council, held in Baku in February 2019 and was also reiterated at the 7th meeting in 2020. While this will further strengthen our bilateral trade on energy, we are aware of the need for Azerbaijan to diversify its economy to be less dependent on energy exports,” said the Commission.
The Southern Gas Corridor comprises the following four projects: (i) operation of Shah Deniz natural gas-condensate field ("SD1" project) and its full-field development ("SD2'" project), (ii) the operation of the South Caucasus Pipeline ("SCP" project) and its expansion ("SCPX" project), (iii) the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline ("TANAP" project) and (iv) the construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline ("TAP" project) (SD2, SCPX, TANAP and TAP collectively, the "Projects").
The Projects have an estimated investment cost of approximately $40 billion. Upon completion, the SD2 project will add a further 16 bcm of natural gas per annum to 10.9 bcma (maximum production capacity) already produced under SD1 project.
Total length of the newly constructed SCPX, TANAP and TAP pipelines will be more than 3,200 kilometres.
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