Azernews.Az

Implementation of the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline project (TANAP) will enable Azerbaijan to reach the borders of Europe for the first time, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev told reporters on Tuesday.

Aliyev said the project is very important, including for Azerbaijan and Turkey.

"Reaching the borders of Europe is important, after which the country will be able to diversify its gas supply routes throughout Europe," Aliyev said.

Azerbaijan has the South Caucasus Pipeline, which allows the country to export gas to Turkey, he said.

"To ensure Azerbaijani gas supplies to Europe, all the necessary work will be conducted to expand the existing gas transportation infrastructure and construct a new gas pipeline [TANAP], which is designed to transport gas from the eastern to the western border of Turkey," Aliyev said.

Azerbaijan and Turkey signed an intergovernmental agreement on the implementation of the TANAP project in late June.

Initial capacity of the 2,000-kilometer (1,240 mile) pipeline is expected to be 16 billion cubic meters per year. The link may carry 10 billion cubic meters of gas a year to the EU from Shah Deniz, the biggest Azerbaijani gas deposit, while Turkey will buy 6 billion cubic meters.