Turkey has completed preparations for the construction of the Ygdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline from Turkey to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) of Azerbaijan, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez said.
“Our preparations, work on the route, survey, alienation, design are over,” Dönmez told Turkish journalists on Monday.
The minister recalled that a memorandum was signed with Azerbaijan on the implementation of this project.
“Now we have approved a number of technical data by Azerbaijan. We also need certain technical information outside the text of the memorandum. As soon as these issues are agreed upon and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) provides us with this technical information, we will start construction,” the minister said.
Earlier, it was reported that the construction of the Ygdyr-Nakhchivan gas pipeline would take 12 months, and would be completed in 2022.
The Memorandum of Understanding on the supply of natural gas to the NAR between the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey was signed on December 15, 2020.
The throughput capacity of the Ygdyr-Nakhchivan gas pipeline will be 500 million cubic meters per year. This will make it possible to supply 1.5 million cubic meters of gas to the NAR every day. This gas pipeline will supply Azerbaijani gas from Turkey to the NAR. SOCAR and BOTAS will be engaged in the implementation of this project.
On the territory of Turkey, the length of the Ygdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline will be approximately 85 km. The project also plans to build one gas metering station.
NAR does not have a common border with the main territory of Azerbaijan and borders on Iran, Armenia and Turkey. At present, gas supply to the NAR is based on swap supplies of Azerbaijani gas to Iran. However, to ensure the energy security of the NAR, a two-way gas supply to Nakhchivan is expedient: from Iran and Turkey.
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