BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
The launch of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), which provides for the transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, will significantly increase prospects for Georgia’s integration into international economic structures, said head of department of Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC) Timur Gochitashvili, Trend reports via Georgian media outlets.
Gochitashvili noted that so far Georgia has been a regional transit country and now the country has become an international player in the energy sector. From this point of view, projects to expand the South Caucasus Pipeline, TANAP and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which are part of the Southern Gas Corridor, are of great importance.
Gas transit through the country will play an important role in enhancing diversification and ensuring the security of the EU ang global energy markets, Gochitashvili said.
“As a result, the prospects of Georgia’s integration into progressive international economic and political structures will significantly grow,” he added.
The opening ceremony of the Phase 1 of the TANAP was held on Nov. 30, 2019.
The opening ceremony took place in Ipsala, Edirne province of Turkey.
In this area, near the Greek border, TANAP is connected to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), through which natural gas from Azerbaijan will be delivered to European countries.
Opening ceremony of TANAP's Phase 0 took place on June 12, 2018, in the Turkish province of Eskisehir, and commercial gas deliveries to Turkey began in late June 2018.
The volume of gas transportation to Turkey via TANAP has reached 3.08 billion cubic meters (bcm) since the start of commercial gas supplies on June 30, 2018 as of late October 2019.
The initial capacity of TANAP, which is the main segment of the Southern Gas Corridor, is 16 billion cubic meters of gas.
Around six billion cubic meters of this gas will be supplied to Turkey while the remaining volume - to Europe. After the completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) construction, gas will be supplied to Europe in early 2020.
The share distribution of TANAP shareholders is as follows: Southern Gas Corridor CJSC - 51 percent, SOCAR Turkey Enerji - 7 percent, Botas - 30 percent, BP - 12 percent.
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