The Southern Gas Corridor is a global project, not just a project about Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister, Natig Aliyev said in an interview with New Europe.
"This is a global project. That's why we have to solve all the conflicts in the regions. We are speaking about energy security but we have to have full security in each region before we can secure that. We need cooperation and support on every level. We have all the financial resources, we just need the political support," ANS cited Aliyev.
"The project is going in accordance with the programmes. We have drilled eight of the 26 wells in the second stage of the development of the Shah Deniz gas field, and the 9th will be started this year. I think by 2020, when we are obliged to deliver gas to Europe, everything will be in line. We are very thankful to the European Commission for supporting all our ideas and ambitions. Now our interests and the EU’s interests are very close. Our cooperation is at a very high level," the minister stressed.
"A State Commission for monitoring the work was established in Azerbaijan. It is authorized to solve all financial, economic and fiscal problems. In Georgia we have some issues with the acquisition of land for pipeline expansion. With TANAP we have no real problems, because we have good relations with Turkey and we meet often. In Greece I do not think there will be problems, but now we are trying to see how this project (TAP) will be affected," Natig Aliyev said, stressing that SOCAR has participated in the tender for DESFA and now owns 66% of DESFA but it has to be approved by the European Commission in accordance with the Third Energy Package.
"These issues will be solved, because some of it may just be a misunderstanding. Firstly, we only have 16.6 percent and it is a consortium. Secondly, the Southern Gas Corridor is operated by BP. In TANAP there is BP, BOTAS and SOCAR. So Azerbaijan is not both the owner and shipper of gas, that’s why I think there are no contradictions," Aliyev noted.
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