BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. The Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) project is likely no longer a part of the regional energy agenda, Murad Heydarov, Executive Director of SOCAR for the Balkans, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.
“Since 2014, we have actively collaborated on the project with interested countries - Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. SOCAR served as a technical advisor, working closely with these countries through the Steering Committee and providing practical technical support, for which they remain grateful. However, for various reasons - most likely due to a lack of fully justified demand from regional companies - the project has effectively been removed from the regional energy agenda,” Heydarov said.
Additionally, the head of SOCAR Balkan noted that the project was not included in the EU’s or the Energy Community’s priority projects’ list.
“Some work was carried out, including the completion of a feasibility study, and the necessary engineering surveys were conducted in Croatia. However, the project did not advance further. We have observed a certain level of skepticism from the regional countries. Furthermore, Croatia is actively pursuing alternative gas transport initiatives with neighboring nations. SOCAR never intended to be an investor in this project; our role was limited to providing technical and advisory support, while planning to supply our gas to the Balkans via a connection to the Southern Gas Corridor. At present, the Steering Committee’s activities are on hold, and no negotiations regarding the project are ongoing,” said Heydarov.
