Source: Trends News AgencyE. Ismayilov
Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan and the EU are preparing two documents that will allow
them to take delivery of the Caspian and in particular Turkmen gas to
Europe, Azerbaijani Industry and Energy Minister Natiq Aliyev said at a
meeting with members of the Caspian-European Integration Business Club
(CEIBC) on Wednesday.
He
said Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and the European Union are preparing a
political document to support the Southern Gas Corridor, as well as an
inter-governmental agreement on Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. This should
take place before the end of the year.
In
September, 2011 the EU Council gave a mandate for negotiations between
the EU, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to build the Trans-Caspian gas
pipeline.
Trans-Caspian
gas pipeline running to around 300 kilometres will be laid from the
Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijani, where it will be linked
to the Southern Gas Corridor. Negotiations between Turkmenistan and the
EU and other countries on the construction of the Trans-Caspian gas
pipeline have been on-going since the late 90s.
During
negotiations with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, the EU will discuss
agreements outlining the legal obligations of the parties necessary for
Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan for the construction and operation of the
Trans-Caspian pipeline. Also on the agenda will be the legal framework
to be applied to the issue of filling the gas pipeline from Turkmenistan
including the recognition of commercial agreements.
The
Southern Gas Corridor' is one of the priority energy projects for the
EU. It is designed to diversify the routes and sources of supply and
thereby increase the energy security of the EU. The Southern Gas
Corridor project includes Nabucco, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and
ITGI.
The Trans Caspian project involves laying a pipeline (300 km) through the seabed from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan.
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