TANAP to be fully inaugurated in November 30

The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), which will deliver Azerbaijani gas to Europe, will be fully inaugurated in November 30, Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said.

"TANAP is one of our most important projects. We are planning its full inauguration as November 30 with a ceremony hosted by both the President of Azerbaijan [Ilham Aliyev - ed. note] and our President [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]," Daily Sabah cited the minister as saying.

The opening ceremony of the Phase 1 will take place in Ipsala, Edirne, near the Greek border, where TANAP is connected to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), through which natural gas from Azerbaijan will be delivered to European countries.

The first phase of TANAP (Phase 0) was completed in June 2018. Its opening ceremony was held on June 12 in Eskişehir. Transportation of the first commercial gas to Turkey began on June 30, 2018.

Head of the 'Caspian Barrel' Center for Oil Research Ilham Shaban, speaking with the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that starting from November 30, it will be possible to deliver Azerbaijani gas directly to the European Union. "If the launch of Phase 0 allowed for the supply of Azerbaijani gas to Turkey's domestic market, then Phase 1 brings gas to the Greek border. A measuring station was built in Ipsala where the flow of Azerbaijani gas will be measured and transmitted by TAP - its grand opening will be attended by the presidents," he specified.

"This section was tested from April to late June. All relevant Turkish authorities have legally issued the necessary documentation on the acceptance and delivery of all facilities under the Phase-1 project. Thus, the pipeline is ready for full operation and export of Azerbaijani gas to the European border," the head of the 'Caspian Barrel' Center for Oil Research said.

At the same time, the EU is not yet ready to take Azerbaijani deliveries. "It is expected that the TAP pipeline will be completed in 2020. On the territory of Greece and Albania, work has been completed, but construction works for the TAP's offshore section and reception center in Italy are underway. In 2020, all of its sections will be tested first with water, then with natural gas, then during six months, the relevant authorities will take TAP into operation. Most likely, the delivery of Azerbaijani gas to European consumers will begin in the third quarter of 2020," Ilham Shaban concluded.