TAP gas pipeline to create much potential for Shah-Deniz consortium
BAKU. Sept 21 (Interfax) - The Trans Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP) creates great potential for the Shah-Deniz consortium to export gas and will be ready for transport operations in 2017, the TAP project's communications director, Michael Hoffman, said on Wednesday in Baku at the Third Annual Conference Gas Infrastructure World Caspian 2011.
He said that TAP will be able to meet all demands for exporting gas from the Shah-Deniz field.
"This is the most profitable solution for gas supply [from Azerbaijan] to the European market, and also the shortest route. We already have the necessary qualifications and specialists that can ensure this project coming to life," Hoffman said.
He also expressed hope that a gas transit agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkey will be signed on September 24-26.
"TAP is a strategic project of the Southern Corridor since it meets all the main goals of the EU. State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) and BP are interested in TAP. The pipeline's initial transport capacity will come to 10 billion cubic meters of gas but can be increased in the future to 20 bcm," he said.
Hoffman said that TAP is not looking at Iran as a potential gas supplier.