BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 6. Additional gas supplies from Azerbaijan may help turn Italy into a transit country, researcher in EU energy and climate policy at the European Policy Center (EPC) Marco Giuli told Trend.
According to the expert, Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has provided an important contribution in the context of the present crisis.
“TAP’s use is actually maxed out. An increased role can be envisaged through its expansion, as outlined in the recent EU-Azerbaijan Memorandum of Understanding [on energy cooperation increase]. Azerbaijan could leverage on TAP additional supplies to export gas towards northern Europe. This would turn Italy into a transit country,” he said.
As Giuli noted, many questions arise with respect to timing, the pace of gas demand reduction in Europe, and Azerbaijan’s actual capacity to deliver additional quantities.
Regarding the initiative of the Italian authorities to use TAP for clean hydrogen transmission, the expert believes it is a long-term initiative. He also pointed out that Azerbaijan should develop massive domestic capacity of renewables, electrolysers, or CCS if it comes to blue hydrogen from methane reforming, in order to launch exports.
“In addition, it is extremely uncertain how much hydrogen will Europe needs from outside and how much can be procured domestically. A use restricted to industrial hard-to-abate sector only might require limited imports,” he added.
The supply of Azerbaijani gas to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor began on December 31, 2020. Azerbaijan exported its natural gas to the European market through pipelines for the first time in history.
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) which is the European part of the Southern Gas Corridor, will annually supply eight billion cubic meters of gas to Italy and one billion cubic meters of gas to Greece and Bulgaria.
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