'Issue of using Botas infrastructure instead of TANAP not viewed'

The issue of using Botas infrastructure for Azerbaijani gas transportation to Turkey if TANAP gas pipeline is not ready in time is not considered now, Turkish Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Murat Mercan told Trend today.

"The main objective is to implement the TANAP project," he said. "We are not discussing the issue of using Botas infrastructure instead of TANAP to transport Azerbaijani gas to Turkey, as at present, there is no likelihood that the project will not be implemented in time."

He said that the talks between Turkey and Azerbaijan to implement TANAP project are successful. It is difficult to name an exact period of signing an intergovernmental agreement on this project. However, the contract will be signed shortly.

"A meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Board between Turkey and Azerbaijan is expected to be held in early July," he said. "We hope that the agreement will be signed by that time."

Regarding the issue of a new shareholder's participation in TANAP project, he said that at this stage, the negotiations are underway between the two shareholders of the project - Turkey and Azerbaijan. It will be known about new companies and countries in the project in future, he said.

He said that perhaps, "Nabucco" may be implemented in the new concept. It is a major project.

"Perhaps, "Nabucco" may not be realized in an old concept," he said. "A new concept - Nabucco West will be one of the most important projects to supply Azerbaijani gas to Europe, along with SEEP and TAP projects."

He said that at this stage, TANAP project implementation is significant for Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the consortium that will build a gas pipeline to supply gas from Shah Deniz gas field to Europe through Turkey. BOTAS has a 20 per cent stake in TANAP, while SOCAR holds 80 per cent in the project.

The initial capacity of the pipeline will be 16 billion cubic meters. Some 6 billion cubic meters of the volume will be supplied to Turkey, while the rest will be transported to Europe.

At present, Azerbaijan is choosing a route for gas exports to Europe via Turkey. Azerbaijan is exporting gas to Turkey via the South Caucasus gas pipeline.


/Trend/