Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.13
By Emil Ismayilov - Trend:
The issue of cooperation between Turkey, Russia and Azerbaijan in the sphere of gas supplies within the Southern Gas Corridor is not a topic for discussion, a senior representative of SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) told Trend, responding to a question regarding the trilateral cooperation.
An integral part of the Southern Gas Corridor - Trans Anatolian gas pipeline will pass namely through Turkey.
"Now all of this is in the process of global issues, and the practical discussion has not yet been reached," said the representative of the State Oil Company.
He said that the corridor from Azerbaijan through Turkey and further to Europe is created with specific parameters (calculated for certain volumes of gas, field and buyers) and to address the specific tasks.
At the same time, the representative of the State Oil Company said that the very concept of a corridor suggests the possibility of future consideration of various options.
During the negotiations in Turkey Dec. 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that under current conditions, as well as due to the EU's unconstructive position, Russia couldn't continue the implementation of the South Stream project. However, Russia will build a new gas pipeline system to meet the needs of Turkey.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Dec. 10 that the representatives of the Russian Federation and Turkey intend to meet in December to discuss the issue of the new pipeline construction. At present, the sides are analyzing various options of its route.
The Southern Gas Corridor will allow Europe to diversify its hydrocarbon supply sources and strengthen energy security and also will allow Azerbaijan to obtain a new market in Europe. A final investment decision was made on December 17, 2013 on the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz offshore gas and condensate field's development. The gas produced at this field will first go to the European market (10 billion cubic meters). Around six billion cubic meters will be annually supplied to Turkey.
As part of the second stage of the field's development, gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus gas pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian (TANAP) and Trans-Adriatic (TAP) gas pipelines.
The contract for development of the Shah Deniz offshore field, which has proven reserve of 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas and 240 million metric tons of gas condensate, was signed on June 4, 1996.
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