Turkish-Azeri pipeline project on track, TANAP executive says
ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency
AA photo
Progress on the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project is on track, TANAP General Manager Saltuk Düzyol said at the World Energy Congress in Istanbul on Oct. 11, adding it was a key part of the regional natural gas supply chain.“First of all we want to complete the Turkey-Georgia border part of the project, which we will finish in 2018,” said Düzyol, noting that the second part of the project from Turkey’s Eskişehir to the Greek border will be finished by the end of 2019.
His remarks came after Turkey and Russia signed a deal for a second pipeline project, the Turkish Stream, to carry gas beneath the Black Sea, which has the potential to connect to TANAP.
Düzyol underlined that TANAP is a high-technology project that will benefit other countries, including Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
“Other gas supply sources in the region, like Iraqi and eastern Mediterranean gas, could also fill the TANAP pipeline system in the future,” he added.
Bulgarian Deputy Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov also stressed the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor, which foresees carrying Azeri gas all the way to Italy.
“The Southern Gas Corridor, which will carry Caspian natural gas to Europe, is a beneficial project for all of us. Numerous companies and governments have come together for this project,” Stankow said, adding that maximum effort was being exerted for connections in the project.
Erdal Tanas Karagöl, an energy researcher at the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), said Turkey could become an “energy-trading center” through the southern gas corridor, rather than a “transit country.”
“TANAP is the main route to the southern corridor and will give an incentive to other suppliers to start new projects. I think the Turkish Stream is the realization of this,” Karagöl said.
He noted that Turkey is surrounded by significant suppliers including Turkmenistan, Iraq and Eastern Mediterranean sources, which could act as alternative sources of supply to boost the southern gas corridor.
“Iran needs new markets to sell its energy and wishes to have better relations with foreign markets. Turkmenistan is another key country that aims to have more contact with external markets to its east and west, along with Azerbaijan in the Caspian region,” Karagöl added.
The Southern Gas Corridor aims to secure Europe’s future energy needs and lower dependence on Russian gas. The TANAP project will be the longest branch of the corridor.
The project is planned to be operational in 2018, with an initial capacity to carry 16 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Azeri gas through Georgia to Turkey.
While 6 bcm will be for Turkey’s domestic gas consumption, the rest is destined for transfer to Greece, Albania, and Italy and further into Europe.
TANAP’s total capacity is planned to increase to 23 bcm by 2023 and to 31 bcm by 2026.
Azeri energy giant Socar holds a 58 percent share interest in TANAP, while Turkey’s BOTAŞ has a 30 percent share and BP owns a 12 percent stake.
His remarks came after Turkey and Russia signed a deal for a second pipeline project, the Turkish Stream, to carry gas beneath the Black Sea, which has the potential to connect to TANAP.
Düzyol underlined that TANAP is a high-technology project that will benefit other countries, including Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
“Other gas supply sources in the region, like Iraqi and eastern Mediterranean gas, could also fill the TANAP pipeline system in the future,” he added.
Bulgarian Deputy Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov also stressed the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor, which foresees carrying Azeri gas all the way to Italy.
“The Southern Gas Corridor, which will carry Caspian natural gas to Europe, is a beneficial project for all of us. Numerous companies and governments have come together for this project,” Stankow said, adding that maximum effort was being exerted for connections in the project.
Erdal Tanas Karagöl, an energy researcher at the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), said Turkey could become an “energy-trading center” through the southern gas corridor, rather than a “transit country.”
“TANAP is the main route to the southern corridor and will give an incentive to other suppliers to start new projects. I think the Turkish Stream is the realization of this,” Karagöl said.
He noted that Turkey is surrounded by significant suppliers including Turkmenistan, Iraq and Eastern Mediterranean sources, which could act as alternative sources of supply to boost the southern gas corridor.
“Iran needs new markets to sell its energy and wishes to have better relations with foreign markets. Turkmenistan is another key country that aims to have more contact with external markets to its east and west, along with Azerbaijan in the Caspian region,” Karagöl added.
The Southern Gas Corridor aims to secure Europe’s future energy needs and lower dependence on Russian gas. The TANAP project will be the longest branch of the corridor.
The project is planned to be operational in 2018, with an initial capacity to carry 16 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Azeri gas through Georgia to Turkey.
While 6 bcm will be for Turkey’s domestic gas consumption, the rest is destined for transfer to Greece, Albania, and Italy and further into Europe.
TANAP’s total capacity is planned to increase to 23 bcm by 2023 and to 31 bcm by 2026.
Azeri energy giant Socar holds a 58 percent share interest in TANAP, while Turkey’s BOTAŞ has a 30 percent share and BP owns a 12 percent stake.