US Congress briefing praises Azerbaijan's historic decision to select TAP
By Gulgiz Dadashova
A U.S. Congress briefing has praised the historical decision made by the consortium developing Azerbaijan's giant Shah Deniz gas field in the Caspian Sea to select the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which showed Azerbaijan's commitment to its independent energy policy and being a reliable partner.
The U.S. Congress on July 17 hosted the briefing on the TAP project -- the final pipeline route connecting the Caspian to Europe that will bring Azerbaijani gas from the Shah Deniz field to European consumers, particularly to the EU, Greece and Italy by linking Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia and potentially the entire Caspian region to southern Europe.
The decision is also a direct indicator of the political will and leadership of the Azerbaijani government, the briefing participants said.
The briefing "Southern Gas Corridor and its role in Europe's energy security", which was organized upon a joint initiative of the embassies of Azerbaijan, Albania, Greece and Italy to the United States, brought together the ambassadors of the participating countries, senior officials, members of Congress and the U.S. State Department, analysts and media representatives.
The event participants noted that bringing Caspian gas to international markets will contribute to meeting the global energy demand and ensuring the energy security and energy diversification of Europe.
Moderator of the event, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the United States Elin Suleymanov said that the implementation of this project would serve the creation of new geopolitical realities, as well as improvement of the economic and social well-being of the participating countries.
In their remarks, representatives of the other three embassies expressed their full political support for the Southern Gas Corridor project.
Albanian Ambassador to the United States Gilbert Galanxhi said that the strategic decision on TAP is a very important and significant one for his country and is very promising.
He expressed hope that by creating new infrastructure facilities
in Albania, which lacks gas transportation infrastructure, it will
be possible to achieve development in this area.
Galanxhi appreciated the opportunity to join the TAP project,
together with the Member States and also neighboring countries as
an incentive for the construction of additional pipework.
Greek Ambassador to the U.S. Christos Panagopoulos, in turn, regarded Azerbaijan as the most reliable ally of Europe in the energy sector.
He said the TAP project is a priority for Greece and its realization would contribute to the economic development of the country, which is dealing with the consequences of the economic crisis.
Lorenzo Galanti, Counselor for Economic Affairs at the Italian Embassy in Washington, said that the TAP project that will carry Caspian gas to European borders is part of Italy's national energy security.
He said that thanks to the project Italy will undertake the position of an energy center.
The Congress briefing further noted that the TAP project realization will tremendously affect Azerbaijan in many respects, as it opens access for Azerbaijan to the southeastern Europen market. Secondly, Azerbaijani gas may reach central and western Europe given that TAP finishes at the landfall point on Italy's southeastern coast.
Vice President of Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR Elshad Nasirov said that the TAP project is just the beginning and connecting pipelines would be constructed in the future with the involvement of Balkan states. As a first step, construction of Greece-Bulgaria interconnector and development of other natural gas fields will begin.
British Petroleum director for international affairs Greg Saunders regarded Azerbaijan as one of the world's most reliable energy partners open to cooperation.
Saunders said that with the "Contract of the Century" signed and implemented -- referring to the agreement on tapping Azerbaijan's ACG field signed with the world's energy majors in 1994 -- Azerbaijan has successfully completed the first part of its energy policy and the TAP project, which is the second part of that policy, promises great prospects and opportunities.
TAP will bring an initial 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas a year across Albania and Greece, and into Italy. First gas is expected in 2019.
TAP pipeline's initial capacity will be 10 billion cubic meters per year, but it will be easily expandable to 20 billion cubic meters. TAP's shareholders are AXPO of Switzerland (42.5 per cent), Norway's Statoil (42.5 per cent) and E.ON Ruhrgas of Germany (15 per cent).