Azerbaijan’s role in Southern Gas Corridor discussed in U.S. Congress
By Aynur Jafarova
Discussions on Azerbaijan's role in the Southern Gas Corridor of pipelines -- a priority EU energy project aimed at diversifying the routes and sources of energy supply -- have been held in U.S Congress.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to the U.S. Elin Suleymanov, Charge d'Affaires of Turkish Embassy in the U.S. Timur Soylemez, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State Amos Hochstein, and members of the House of Representatives Cory Gardner and Donna Edwards joined the discussions, which were held in the format of a working dinner.
Speaking about the current state of the implementation of energy projects, Ambassador Suleymanov cited the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline as a 'successful example'. He said that the BTC project materialized thanks to joint and effective partnership of the region's countries -- Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey -- as well asUS Secretary of State Clinton's administration.
Suleymanov added that the implementation of the energy projects envisaging transportation of natural gas resources is a priority for Azerbaijan.
Referring to the project on developing the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas condensate field and Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP) as the key elements of the Southern Gas Corridor, Suleymanov said that realization of the energy projects will give an impetus to the development of the strategic role of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey as transit countries.
Gas to be produced during the second stage of the Shah Deniz project is considered the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects.
The TANAP project envisages gas transportation from the Shah Deniz field to Europe via Turkey. Initial capacity of the pipeline is expected to be 16 billion cubic meters per year. Around 6 billion cubic meters will be delivered to Turkey, while the rest will be transported to Europe.
Addressing the event, Donna Edwards cited the importance of energy resources of the Caspian Sea in the provision of energy security in the European countries which are allies of the U.S.
In turn, Congressmen Gardner stressed that the U.S. as an importer country should pay a priority attention to the political course that envisions diversification of natural gas resources.
Timur Soylemez regarded the diversification of energy resources as a key factor in the energy policy of Turkey, and said that Turkey intends to deepen its position in world energy markets.
Soylemez noted that Turkey has partnership relations with Azerbaijan in the energy sector as well as in other spheres.
Amos Hochstein for his part said that Turkey's role in the transportation of Azerbaijan's huge energy resources, and ensuring energy security of the European countries by Azerbaijan and Turkey is appreciated in the U.S.
He said that the US administration attaches great importance to the TANAP and Southern Gas Corridor projects and aims at the provision of energy security of European allies.
Director for International Affairs in BP's Washington DC office Greg Saunders also appraised Turkey-Azerbaijan cooperation in this sphere, terming the decision of the Azerbaijani and Turkish governments on the TANAP project as the indicator of Azerbaijan's commitment to the image of a reliable partner.