SOCAR, BP and EU Energy Commissioner Welcome Turkey-Azerbaijan Deal
The EU, SOCAR and BP have all welcomed the signing of a gas deal between Turkey and Azerbaijan to purchase from Azerbaijan and for the transport of Azerbaijani gas from Turkey to Europe.
President of the State Owned Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) Rovnaq Abdullayev said that the agreement was a "significant step" for Azerbaijan and Turkey, and for the European gas market.
"We are pleased to finalise the signing of these key agreements between Azerbaijan and Turkey that will lead to Shah Deniz full field development and delivery of Stage 2 gas from Azerbaijan’s giant field in the Caspian Sea to Turkey and European markets," Mr. Abdullayev said in a statement released on SOCAR's website yesterday.
"This is a significant step that has been achieved by the two Governments with support from all parties involved including the Shah Deniz consortium.
"We believe the success of all efforts that have brought us to today’s achievement lies in the close partnership among the three key parties - the Government of Azerbaijan, the Government of Turkey and the Shah Deniz consortium.
"This partnership has been a key element in everything accomplished so far and will continue to be a driving force to move Shah Deniz to the stage when it will safely and reliably supply Azerbaijan gas to Turkey and Europe."
Speaking for the consortium, Rashid Javanshir, President for the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Region of BP said that the agreement would open up the Southern Gas Corridor to Europe.
"We believe these agreements will help open a Southern Gas Corridor to Europe and link Azerbaijan and Turkey with yet another strategic partnership," he said.
"They will support the continued development of Shah Deniz 2 project towards a final investment decision and development of Turkey as an energy hub for Europe. The signing of these agreements will also allow Shah Deniz to proceed with its European pipeline selection process, and to confirm gas sales agreements with potential customers."
European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger also hailed the agreement, but said that the agreement must follow international law.
"We want to see sufficient dedicated pipeline capacity that links Azerbaijan to Europe," he said at a conference in Brussels.
"And this pipeline capacity needs to be operated within a strong legal framework compatible with international law. This is also the preference of the President of Azerbaijan which he set out in a joint Commission-Azerbaijan declaration signed in January 2011 together with President Barroso."
The Turkish-Azerbaijani deal was signed on Tuesday. Read More HERE