Georgia voices desire to accelerate SGC project implementation
By Aynur Karimova
Georgia, one of the main links in the chain carrying the blue fuel of the giant Shah Deniz field from Azerbaijan to consumers in Turkey and further to Europe, has voiced its desire to accelerate the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project.
Speaking at the 3rd Azerbaijan and Caspian Sea Oil and Gas Week 2015 in Baku on September 29, David Oniani, an advisor for strategic planning at Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation, said that his country does not see any alternative to this major pipeline network.
"This project is the only way forward, only development scenario, where Georgia can realize its transit potential and become important regional and global energy player," he noted.
Oniani believes that there are multiple benefits to the Southern Gas Corridor project that will not only be in the best interests of the countries involved, but also for countries of the entire region.
Shah Deniz Stage 2 gas will make a 3,500 kilometer journey from the Caspian Sea into Europe. This requires upgrading the existing infrastructure and the development of a chain of new pipelines.
The existing South Caucasus Pipeline will be expanded with a new parallel pipeline across Azerbaijan and Georgia, while the Trans-Anatolian pipeline will transport Shah Deniz gas across Turkey to meet the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, which will take gas through Greece and Albania into Italy.
Together, these projects are known as the Southern Gas Corridor. It is arguably the global oil and gas industry’s most significant and ambitious undertaking yet. The corridor is a complex challenge involving many different stakeholders, including seven governments and 11 companies.
The Southern Gas Corridor is set to change the energy map of the entire region, connecting gas supplies in the Caspian to markets in Europe for the very first time.
Earlier, Georgian Deputy Energy Minister Mariam Valishvili told Trend that the realization of the Southern Gas Corridor project in Georgia is on schedule and there have been no difficulties in implementing the project.
"The work schedule is being complied with, and there are no problems," she noted. "All the agreements have been concluded and state authorities were issued all permits."
Currently, roads are being built, land is being cleared for further construction, and other preparatory work is underway in Georgia to make way for the Southern Gas Corridor project.
“The main construction work as part of the project [in Georgia] will begin in 2016,” Valishvili said.
The first gas supplies through the corridor to Georgia and Turkey are given a target date of late 2018. Gas deliveries to Europe are expected just over a year after the first gas is produced offshore in Azerbaijan.
The Southern Gas Corridor pipeline system has been designed to be scalable to twice its initial capacity to accommodate additional gas supplies in the future.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
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