BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.2
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Austria and Azerbaijan cooperate very well in the energy sphere, Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs told Trend.
“Although Nabucco did not materialize the way we had wished, Azerbaijan is now a noteworthy part of the diversification of Europe’s energy supply. We just see Azerbaijan becoming a gas supplier via the Balkans and Italy. The first gas has recently been transported from the Caspian to the EU.
For Austria this is welcome news. More specifically, we see the expansion of the Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR in Austria. In Styria and other parts of Austria, there are already some SOCAR petrol stations which function also as a well visible advertisement for the country,” the ministry said.
Following the start of commercial operations on November 15, 2020, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) AG confirmed on Dec. 31 the commencement of gas flows from Azerbaijan. The first gas has reached Greece and Bulgaria, via the Nea Mesimvria interconnection point with DESFA, as well as Italy, via the Melendugno interconnection point with SNAM Rete Gas (SRG).
TAP transports natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. The 878 km long pipeline connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.
TAP will facilitate gas supplies to South Eastern European countries through prospective interconnectors. In particular, Bulgaria will be able to cover up to 33% of its total gas demand through TAP after the completion of the Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB). TAP’s exits in Greece and Albania together with the landfall in Italy provide multiple opportunities for further transport of gas from Azerbaijan to the wider European markets.
As a key part of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP is strategically and economically important to Europe and essential in providing reliable access to a new source of natural gas. TAP plays a significant role in boosting Europe’s energy security, supply diversification, as well as decarbonisation objectives.
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