Talks on guarantees for Trans-Caspian project maybe completed in mid-2012

Talks between the European Commission and Azerbaijan on guarantees for the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline could be completed in mid-2012, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger told journalists at the lobby of the conference Energy Dialogue Russia - EU: Gas Aspect. "It is not a function of the European Commission to give guarantees, our goal is to organize the work," he misspoke, RBC says.

Trans-Caspian gas pipeline is a major project to supply gas to Europe through the "Southern Corridor". EU Council of Ministers has approved a mandate for negotiations with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan on the gas pipeline under the Caspian Sea on September 12 2011. It has to go, bypassing Russia, providing the EU with alternative sources of energy,
and Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan by direct access to the European energy market. It is planned to transport gas to Nabucco gas pipeline, which is a competitor of the Russian South Stream, through the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia has expressed regret about the decision of the EU to hold negotiations on the construction of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, as it is made ??without taking into account actually existing international law
and the geopolitical situation in the Caspian basin.

It was reported earlier that an intergovernmental agreement, which should fix quota of Turkmen gas in a project of the Southern energy corridor should be signed between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan with the assistance of the European Commission. According to experts, legal basis for the construction of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, which guarantees freedom of transit of fuel in Europe can be created this way.

SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev stated that Azerbaijan is not actually a member of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. According to Abdullayev, after the European Union and Turkmenistan agree on this project, the Azerbaijani side might consider ensuring gas transit through own territory.


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