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By Trend

Implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project will make Europe stronger than before, European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic said.

Sefcovic made the remarks at a press conference in Baku Feb. 15 following the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council.

He said 2018 will be a special period in implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project.

Sefcovic added that Azerbaijani gas will reach Europe in 2020.

SGC is a strategic project that will strengthen Europe’s energy security, and therefore the EU is supporting the project from the very beginning, Sefcovic said.

He added that the key components of the Southern Gas Corridor were outlined as the projects of the common interest for Europe. Since the very beginning of implementation of the energy strategy, the EU has closely worked with the countries of Southeast Europe and supported the creation of interconnectors to connect those countries to the Southern Gas Corridor.

Sefcovic said from this point of view, the expression of interest by such countries as Bulgaria and Romania to join the project is of great importance.

The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority projects for the EU and provides for the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe.

At an initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage.

As part of the Shah Deniz Stage 2, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

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