Azerbaijan is considering the possibility of transporting Iranian gas through its territory to Europe, said Azerbaijan’s Deputy Energy Minister Natig Abbasov.
He noted that it would become possible through Iran’s joining the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project.
Abbasov didn’t exclude possibility of transporting Iraqi gas through Azerbaijan to Europe.
TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018, and after completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline’s construction, the gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020.
The project’s total cost is estimated at $9.8 billion. Currently, the shareholders of TANAP are SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) – 58%, Botas – 30% and BP – 12%.
TAP project envisages transportation of gas from the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz gas and condensate field to the EU countries. TAP’s shareholding is comprised of BP (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam S.p.A. (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagas (16%) and Axpo (5%). A ceremony marking the beginning of construction for the project was held on May 17, in Thessaloniki.
The 870-kilometer pipeline will be connected to the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy’s south. (Trend/Business World Magazine)
