Azerbaijan, Baku, April 26 / Trend, A.Badalova /
The results of the tender for privatization of Greek public gas corporation DEPA could affect the decision of the consortium of the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field development on the final pipeline route, Editor-in-Chief at Eurasia Energy Observer, Andrej Tibold believes.
"Azerbaijan's gas export strategy through pipelines foresees to have a (majority) share, where possible, in the pipeline infrastructure that exports its gas to Europe, as to increase its transit security," Tibold wrote Trend in an e-mail.
"Trans Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) project and the possible take over of DEPA fit within this strategy," Tibold added.
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) is one of the participants in tender for the privatization of DEPA. The main interest of Azerbaijani company's participation in privatization is based on the fact that DEPA operates gas distribution networks and conducts other gas operations in Greece.
Tibold believes that if SOCAR wins the tender this would be in favour of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) option. The pipeline passes through the territory of Greece.
Currently, the Shah Deniz consortium considers two options to transport its gas to the European markets - TAP and Nabucco West. The final decision on the pipeline route will be made in June.
"The outcome of the tender still remains to be seen," Tibold said.
According to the expert, SOCAR and two Russian companies (Gazprom and Sintez Group) have all placed very competitive bets.
"Greece would obviously be motivated to go for the highest bidder, considering the country's financial problems," Tibold said.
"However, there are also geopolitical interests involved in this tender that might not automatically lead for DEPA to go to the highest bidder. Possibly, a last final resort to solve the conflict of economic and geopolitical interests could be to postpone or annul the tender altogether," Tibold believes.
The contest to purchase of DEPA will take place on May 10. However opening of envelopes with participants' applications has been repeatedly postponed. The last time it was expected on April 12, but was again postponed. Earlier, representatives of the Greek government and the privatization agency HRADF stated that the decisions on the privatization of DEPA will be made until May this year.
