Trend: U.S. Ambassador: Azerbaijan plays critical role in increasing alternative supplies to Europe

Azerbaijan plays a critical role in increasing alternative supplies for NATO allies, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Richard Morningstar said during his speech at NATO partnership conference "Emerging Security Challenges: Enhancing Energy Security in the XXI Century" on Wednesday.

"Next month we expect the Shah Deniz Consortium to make a decision on the final additional pipeline route to bring Azerbaijani gas to Europe," Morningstar said.

According to Morningstar, the United States is neutral on which pipeline project will be chosen by the Shah Deniz Consortium - Nabucco West or Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

The project to be chosen will diversify Europe's gas supplies and provide scaleable means of transporting future Azerbaijani gas to Europe, he said.  

"Turkey also plays a crucial role both in providing outlook for producing nations and facilitating the diversification of Europe's gas supplies," Morningstar said. MORE