TAPI, TCP - priority gas pipelines for Turkmenistan, expert says
By Fatma Babayeva
Turkmenistan, which holds the world’s fourth largest gas reserves, is interested in diversifying its gas export routes, namely through the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project that is being implemented in the eastern direction and the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline (TPC) project envisaged in the western direction.
Matthew Bryza, former U.S. assistant secretary for South Caucasus and former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, announced about this while talking to Trend.
Bryza noted that Turkmenistan needs both projects.
The best route for delivering Turkmen gas to Europe would be a 300-kilometer long gas pipeline running through the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijani coasts by further connecting it to the Southern Gas Corridor gas pipeline system.
Previously, Azerbaijan has expressed its readiness to provide its territory, transit opportunities and infrastructure for realization of the project.
Bryza stressed that the TAPI pipeline route with the capacity of pumping 33 billion cubic meters a year is stretching through unsafe Afghanistan, as well as, through conflicting Pakistan and India, which creates certain political risks.
Bryza mentioned that Turkmenistan wants to have a variety of ways to sell its gas, but to be less dependent on Russia in this regard.
Ashgabat hopes that the U.S. will support TAPI and then the project will be successfully implemented, added the former ambassador.
Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Natig Aliyev earlier suggested two options for transporting Turkmen gas via the Caspian Sea. The first one was the construction of the TCP. The second option was linking the platforms with subsea pipelines in the sea.
The minister also highlighted that several issues remain unsolved by the Turkmen side, as the country is willing only to sell its gas on their border with the Caspian Sea.
Aliyev also added that Azerbaijan creates opportunities for other countries to export their gas to Europe and can make additional investments in new infrastructures however the country needs a guarantee from other side.
Upon realization, the Trans-Caspian Pipeline will be connected to the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) which is currently underway.
The SGC is included to the list of priority projects for the EU. It envisages the provision of more than 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region to Europe annually.
The pipeline network will stretch across 3,500 kilometer area from the Caspian Sea into Europe via Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Greece to transfer gas from Shah Deniz Phase 2 located in Azerbaijan’s section of the Caspian Sea to the Europe.
First gas delivery to Georgia and Turkey is targeted for late 2018. Gas deliveries to Europe are expected a year after first gas is produced in offshore Azerbaijan. After the completion of the TAP pipeline, the Azerbaijani gas will be transported to Europe roughly at the beginning of 2020.
Other gas sources can be connected to the pipeline at the later stages.
---
Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz