BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. Azerbaijan is carrying out work to increase the capacity of the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) to fulfill the task of increasing gas exports to Europe, an informed source told Trend.
“A total of 8.1 bcm of gas was supplied to Europe in 2021; by the end of 2027, we want to reach an annual export volume of 16 bcm of gas. For this purpose, in particular, the capacity of SCP - the gas pipeline in the territory of Azerbaijan and Georgia - is being increased. Its capacity will be increased to 71 million cubic meters of gas per day from the current 67–68 million cubic meters per day,” the source noted.
He explained that for this purpose, technical modernization of compressor facilities is being carried out, and certain equipment, such as temperature sensors and pressure sensors (which have already been ordered), will be supplemented.
“It is absolutely realistic to reach 16 billion cubic meters of gas per year in Europe by the end of 2027. Azerbaijan has gas for this purpose, in particular, from the Shah Deniz field. It is not only about gas delivery through the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) but also simultaneously through another line - the BOTAS gas pipeline system and the Malkochlar node on the border of Türkiye and Bulgaria. In other words, Azerbaijan will be able to provide Europe with 16 bcm of gas per year (this year it plans about 13 bcm),” the source stressed.
To note, the EU has been supplied with Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian Shah Deniz field via the South Caspian gas pipeline since December 2020.
The EU started to receive additional volumes of Azerbaijani gas from the Shah Deniz Caspian field via the BOTAS system through the Malkochlar hub and further from Bulgaria at the end of 2023.
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