Azernews.Az

Following the signing of a Turkey-Azerbaijan intergovernmental agreement on gas transit, no obstacle is now left in the way of the Azerbaijani gas supply to Europe, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told reporters on Wednesday, the Aksam newspaper reports.

"The Azerbaijani gas from the Shah Deniz-2 field will be delivered to Europe in late 2017-early 2018," Yildiz said.

Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a package of gas contracts on Tuesday which includes cost issues of Azerbaijani gas for Turkey in the Shah Deniz-2 project, volume of gas supplies to Turkey from the field after 2017, as well as a transit agreement for Azerbaijani gas transportation through Turkey.

The transit agreement is necessary for the implementation of Azerbaijani gas projects to Europe within the Southern Gas Corridor.

The gas produced during the second stage of Shah Deniz field development is regarded as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor project. Within Shah Deniz-2 project, Azerbaijan is planning to deliver 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe.

The South Corridor is a priority EU energy project diversifying energy supply routes and sources and increasing security. The Southern Corridor includes the Nabucco gas pipeline, Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and ITGI (Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline).

Now partners in the Shah Deniz development are considering proposals from these pipeline projects to determine the route by which Azerbaijani gas will be delivered to Europe.