The US supports Europe’s efforts to work with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on establishing the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, the Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Azerbaijan Derek Hogan said Nov.21 during the 2nd Azerbaijan and Caspian Sea Oil and Gas Week 2014 conference in Baku.
He said that the achievement of a tripartite agreement will make it possible to create a legal framework for the construction of this pipeline in the future.
“The United States supports the parties involved in the development of this project,” said Hogan.
The diplomat said that Azerbaijan has already demonstrated its willingness to participate in the process of gas supply on a global scale, as exemplified by the Shah Deniz-2 project and the development of the Southern Gas Corridor.
“This new route will make it possible to provide the annual deliveries of 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe till early 2020,” Hogan said. “Despite the fact that these volumes are not so great, the specified route will create an opportunity for the supply of gas from other fields of Azerbaijan as well and from Turkmenistan in the future.”
He said that Azerbaijan and the Caspian region have great prospects.
Azerbaijan will play an important role in strengthening of the European energy security through diversification of gas supplies, the diplomat said.
The charge d’affaires said that the Southern Gas Corridor is an important project and a key element of Europe’s energy security, and therefore the US supports it, regardless of its plans to export shale gas.
Trans-Caspian gas pipeline will make it possible to connect Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan and carry out the Turkmen gas supplies to Europe.
