EU sees TANAP as key element of Southern Gas Corridor
Trans Anatolian pipeline (TANAP) is an important element of the infrastructure of Southern Gas Corridor system, which will closely connect Azerbaijan with the European Union, the European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger said in Brussels, during the session "The European Union and Azerbaijan: strategic partnership - Southern Gas corridor and other directions."
The meeting was held within the opening of Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR's representative office in Brussels, a statement issued by SOCAR said on Wednesday.
According to Oettinger, within 20 years, Azerbaijan passed a long way of development and took an important place in the world economy. SOCAR has an important role in this way, proved by the rightful place which the company took in the center of Europe.
The senior specialist of Jamestown Foundation in Washington Vladimir Socor said TANAP project is a step forward towards creation of the Southern Gas Corridor.
Speaking on the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor in the energy security of Europe, Socor noted Azerbaijan's efforts in implementation of this project.
According to him, Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of the West in Eastern Europe, calling Azerbaijan a symbol of religious and ethnic tolerance in the post-Soviet area and in the region in general.
During the meeting, the head of SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev expressed confidence that with the opening of SOCAR mission in Brussels cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU in the field of energy will become more intense.
The Southern Gas Corridor is a major energy project for the EU. It is intended to diversify routes and sources of supply. It is aimed at ensuring EU energy security. Gas which will be produced during the second stage of Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field development is considered as the main source for the Souther Gas Corridor projects.
Currently, the Shah Deniz consortium considers two options to deliver its gas to Europe - Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Nabucco West. The final decision on a pipeline route will be made in 2013
TANAP project envisages construction of the pipeline from the eastern border of Turkey to the country's western border to supply gas from Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas field to Europe through Turkey.