Azernews.Az

Key players from the Southern gas Corridor will meet next year in Vienna to discuss the latest developments in the project following the Azerbaijan-Turkey gas deals, reached in October.

European gas conference 2012 will be held in Vienna on January 24-27, where the issues of major European pipeline projects will be discussed, the conference's website said.

European Gas Conference programme director Sandra Haines said the "great pipeline debate" continues unabated.

"Over the last 12 months the focus on the Southern Corridor and especially Azerbaijani gas has intensified," she said.

Haines noted that the competitors are now jostling for position to supply Europe with Azerbaijani gas.

"A decision on how to transport gas from the Shah Deniz field is expected later this year and Azerbaijani gas is expected to hit the European market by 2017," she said.

The Southern Corridor is a priority EU energy project diversifying energy supply routes and sources and increasing EU energy security. The Southern Corridor includes the Nabucco gas pipeline, TAP and ITGI (Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline). The gas produced within the second phase of the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz Field is considered to be the main gas source for these projects.

Within Shah Deniz-2 project, Azerbaijan is planning to deliver 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe. Now partners in the Shah Deniz development consider proposals from the pipeline projects to determine the route via which Azerbaijani gas will be delivered to Europe.

In late October, Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a package of gas contracts 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 needed to transport Azerbaijani gas through the Turkish territory to Europe.

Among the other issues to be discussed during the conference in Vienna are the 3rd Energy Package, global LNG market and its relationship with Europe and the future of natural gas.