BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr.16
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Azerbaijani gas was among the drivers of Eurasian gas output growth in the first quarter of 2021, Trend reports citing the International Energy Agency (IEA).
“Following the steep drop during the first half of 2020, Eurasian gas production losses moderated in the second half of the year and returned to growth in Q1 2021, largely driven by higher gas output in Azerbaijan and Russia,” IEA said in its Gas Market Q2 report.
The agency estimates that Azerbaijan’s gas production increased by 5 percent year-on-year during the October 2020-February 2021 period. “This was largely driven by the ramp-up of pipeline exports via the TANAP and TAP pipeline systems, with deliveries to the European markets soaring by an impressive 40%. Exports via TAP to the European Union totalled over 1 bcm.”
In Azerbaijan gas production rose by over 6 percent y-o-y to reach 26 bcm in 2020, according to the IEA.
“This was largely driven by the rapid ramp-up of pipeline exports via the TANAP pipeline. Azerbaijani gas exports to Turkey increased by an impressive 21% y-o-y (or 2 bcm), supported by higher production at the Shah Deniz-II field.”
Azerbaijani gas supplies to European via the Southern Gas Corridor commenced in late 2020.
As the European section of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP has the capacity to transport approximately 10 billion cubic meters of gas per annum (bcm/a) to several markets in Europe. The pipeline is also designed with the potential to expand its throughput capacity up to 20 bcm/a.
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 decarbonisation objectives.
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