'TANAP is important contribution to Europe's energy security'

SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev has appreciated signing the documents for the construction of Trans-Anatolian gas transportation system as more progress in the development of energy relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey and as a real contribution to the creation of Southern Gas Corridor project, SOCAR's official website said today.

"Azerbaijan and Turkey implement this project together," Abdullayev said. "The project is of great strategic importance for them and whole Europe. TANAP is a project of paramount importance in purchasing liquefied natural gas for the Turkish domestic market and ensuring the energy security of the fraternal country."

Moreover, this project is an important contribution in terms of energy security of European countries, he said.

"As it is known, the final decision on the choice of a gas transportation way to European countries will be taken in late 2013," he added. "The Shah Deniz consortium is choosing gas pipelines (Nabucco Vest and the South East European Pipeline projects), through which the volumes of liquefied natural gas will be supplied to Central Europe. The chosen variant and Trans Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP) will be considered on an equal footing in the process of making a final decision."

Abdullayev said that the package of documents signed in Istanbul has been prepared in accordance with the schedule agreed between the parties. According to this schedule, the parties signed a memorandum on establishing a consortium on TANAP in December 2011 and agreed the market shares in the project. According to the memorandum, the parties agreed to establish a project company by late June 2012, to sign an intergovernmental contract and a contract between TANAP Co and the Turkish government (this document reflects the rights and obligations of the parties to implement the project). All these issues have become a reality following the signing ceremony in Istanbul.

"I must say that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has been focusing on all processes associated with TANAP project all this period," he said. "The President has repeatedly taken an interest in the progress of the work and given his instructions. As a result of large-scale work carried out under the direction of the Azerbaijani President, today SOCAR takes steps to implement the technical and economic studies of the pipeline. We will continue doing everything possible with Turkish colleagues for TANAP project to be implemented till natural gas is extracted within the second stage of Shah Deniz field development."

He said that signing the documents on TANAP project between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shows importance attached by the two fraternal countries to Trans-Anatolian pipeline project. The pipeline is the foundation of Azerbaijan's gas strategy for the long term period.


/Trend/