BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.12
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Caspian gas will be delivered to Europe via Georgia, said Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava, Trend reports via the ministry.
She made the remark during an online ministerial meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council.
The minister noted that following the Shah Deniz phase 2 and the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) projects, Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) entered operational phase.
Turnava stated that this meeting was one of the most successful as project participants managed to fulfill their plans despite pandemic-related challenges.
“Using a variety of platforms and all available opportunities, we pledged our unanimous support for this large-scale transport initiative. Billions of cubic meters of gas will be supplied to newly acquired European markets and thousands of new consumers along this route. Georgia, seeking to integrate into a more representative European family , has always been proud of its role and as a transit country participated in such a strategically important project," Turnava noted.
According to the minister, Georgia, as a transit country, will receive significant benefits from the supply of Caspian gas to Europe.
Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG confirmed on Dec. 31 the commencement of gas flows from Azerbaijan. The first gas has reached Greece and Bulgaria, via the Nea Mesimvria interconnection point (Greece) with DESFA, as well as Italy, via the Melendugno interconnection point with SNAM Rete Gas (SRG).
TAP is transporting natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. The 878 km long pipeline connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.
As a key part of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP is strategically and economically important to Europe and essential in providing reliable access to a new source of natural gas. TAP plays a significant role in boosting Europe’s energy security, supply diversification, as well as decarbonization objectives.
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