TODAY.AZ / Business

Experts claim Iranian gas supplies could reach Europe via Azerbaijani pipeline

09 October 2015 [17:18] - TODAY.AZ

/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

Experts are discussing the possibility of transporting blue fuel from various countries to European customers via the Azerbaijan-initiated Trans-Adriatic Pipeline.

Senior Energy Consultant Charalampos Pippos, the former Chairman of the Energy Group of the EU Council, believes that the transit of gas from Iran, Iraq and Turkmenistan via TAP is possible.

“Under specific positive political and economic circumstances there is still an open possibility for transportation of natural gas through the TAP, which is the vital part of the Southern Gas Corridor, from Iran, Iraq and/or Turkmenistan,” he told Trend.

The expert said that Turkmen gas could be transported via an appropriate final link of the route starting from Turkmenistan via Azerbaijan directly with TAP or with another possible interconnector, for example the Interconnector Greece-Italy.

“In the case of Iraqi or Iranian gas transportation to EU markets, a new strategic route should be constructed in the Southeast Mediterranean, most possibly as a part of the proposed East-Med pipeline and existing Trans-Med pipeline, again through an appropriate final direct link of this line either with TAP or with IGI,” Pippos noted.

The proposed East-Med pipeline would transport gas from Israel’s offshore platforms and Cyprus to the EU through Greece or Turkey. The project has been included in the European Union’s Projects of Common Interest. The pipeline, approximately 1,700 kilometers in length, is expected to have an annual capacity of 15 billion cubic meters.

The Trans-Med pipeline is a natural gas pipeline from Algeria via Tunisia to Sicily and to mainland Italy. An extension of the Trans-Med pipeline delivers Algerian gas to Slovenia.

Pippos believes that while Turkmen and Iraqi gas could become a source for the Southern Gas Corridor in the medium term, Iranian gas could reach western markets only in the long term, given the geopolitical energy developments in the broader region.

Sergei Pikin, the director of the Russian Energy Development Fund, shares the same opinion with Pippos.

Pikin told Trend that in the coming years, Iranian gas will be unavailable for Europe.

“In order to get Iranian gas, it is necessary to build infrastructure. Therefore, at best, Iran’s gas will be in the European market after 2020," he said.

The expert believes that in order to supply gas to the European market in the future, Iran will be able to use a pipeline stretching from Iran to Turkey, which isn’t fully loaded.

Iran, which holds 33.8 trillion cubic meters of proven natural gas reserves – or 18.2 percent of the world’s total proven reserves – has pursued multiple projects for years to pipe natural gas to Europe.

The anticipated lifting of sanctions and the resumption of relations with the West will increase the chances Iranian gas reaching those markets.

Iran’s geographical location makes it possible for the country to transit gas to markets in Europe only via routes going through Turkey or Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is already on the path to exporting not only its own natural gas to Europe, but Iran’s as well. Although international sanctions are still in place, Tehran seems willing to consider the idea of cooperation with Azerbaijan on the Southern Gas Corridor project, which aims to bring natural gas from the Caspian Sea to the European Union.

In August, Iran's Communications and Information Technology Minister, Mahmoud Vaezi, toldTrend that Tehran would cooperate with Azerbaijan on gas transportation to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor.

“Transportation through Azerbaijan is one of the routes of bringing Iranian gas to Europe,” Vaezi noted. “I believe we will be able to cooperate with Azerbaijan in the use of the Southern Gas Corridor. We have held talks in this regard with Azerbaijan's energy minister and the relevant structures.”

The Southern Gas Corridor is a priority energy project for the EU. It envisages the transit of gas from the Caspian Sea region to European countries through Georgia and Turkey.

This ambitious project aims to diversify the routes and sources of energy supply that will enhance Europe's energy security. The Southern Gas Corridor project will ensure Caspian gas supplies to European markets for the first time in history.

At its initial stage, the primary source of gas for the pipeline will be from Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz field. Other sources could also connect to the pipeline at a later stage.

As part of the second stage of development of the field, gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets via an expanded South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of both the Trans-Anatolian and Trans-Adriatic pipelines.

It is believed that TANAP, which will later be linked to TAP, could become a reliable route for supplying Iranian gas to Europe. By joining TANAP, Iran is sure to strengthen Azerbaijan’s regional position as a transit country.

This will not only bring economic benefits, but also political dividends that will be much more significant. In this regard, Azerbaijan should mobilize its diplomatic efforts to persuade Iranian officials to connect the existing infrastructure to TANAP and TAP.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/144275.html

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