Page 9 - MEOG Week 08 2021
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MEOG PIPELINES & TRANSPORT MEOG
Baku mulls Turkmen, Israeli gas
and West Balkan deliveries in SGC II
GAS CORRIDOR AZERBAIJAN’S state-owned Socar has detailed see gas flowed to the new markets in the Balkans.
what it bills as “phase two” of the Southern Gas “In this [second] phase, SOCAR aims to
Corridor (SGC) project that delivers gas from reach additional markets and transit gas from
the South Caucasus country to the European additional locations, as well as developing Azer-
Union. baijan’s gas resources,” Nassirov was quoted as
Representatives of Azerbaijan’s national saying, adding: “Azerbaijan is prepared to transit
energy company SOCAR have spoken of sourc- gas from multiple sources without discrimina-
ing additional gas from Turkmenistan and Israel tion. Energy is never used as a coercive political
and flowing gas via the SGC to new markets in tool.”
the Balkans. They have even talked of Armenia The SGC helps southern Europe reduce its
being a possible future market for Azerbaijani dependence on Russian energy exports. First
gas and of how the TANAP pipeline in Turkey – SGC gas flowed to Italy via its last completed
a major part of the SGC – was already technically section, the TAP pipeline that crosses the Adri-
ready to carry hydrogen. A blend of up to 20% atic Sea from Albania, at the end of 2020.
hydrogen could flow through TANAP in the Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan struck a land-
future, according to SOCAR briefings. mark agreement last month to jointly develop
The prospect of the former would depend on the Dostluk field that spans the border between
Armenia establishing diplomatic relations with the two countries’ maritime zones in the Caspian
Azerbaijan. Sea. The agreement ended a 30-year dispute as to
In December, European Commissioner for which country had the rights to develop the field,
Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhe- formerly known as Kepez in Azerbaijan and Sar-
lyi said the EU was “keen” to explore the possible dar in Turkmenistan.
extension of the SGC to the Western Balkans. “This new cooperation with Turkmenistan
The Western Balkans covers countries such as will open up more opportunities for Central
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Asian gas to also join the SGC,” S&P further
North Macedonia and Kosovo. quoted Nassirov as saying.
Elshad Nassirov, SOCAR’s vice president for “Israeli gas to Turkey and then entering
investment and marketing, lately spoke during TANAP with swaps in the Turkish market is
an Atlantic Council webinar. commercially the most viable option to export
S&P Global Platts reported Nassirov as stat- gas from the East Mediterranean into Europe
ing that gas could be sourced from Turkmenistan and we support that option,” he was also cited
and Israel in the future, while the SGC could also as saying.
Week 08 24•February•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P9
