Azernews.Az

By Aynur Karimova

It has now become inevitable that Turkmenistan will join the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline, amid the energy-rich Central Asian country's plans to enter the European markets.

Turkmenistan, a major energy producer in the Central Asian region and the fourth country in the world after Russia, Iran, and Qatar for natural gas resources, has been eager to sell its gas to Europe. The country has repeatedly expressed readiness to supply up to 40 billion cubic meters of gas to EU per year.

Turkmenistan sells gas to Russia, Iran, and China and is actively seeking to diversify its gas exports, but Turkmen gas will not be able to penetrate European markets without a pipeline through Azerbaijan. While a gas corridor between Turkmenistan and Iran exists, the existing infrastructure cannot accommodate increasing volume.

In this case, joining TANAP becomes inevitable for Turkmenistan. The legal foundation for this has already been set by Ashgabat. In November 2014, Turkmenistan signed an outline deal with Turkey to supply gas through TANAP.

However, to join TANAP, Turkmenistan will have to lay another pipeline across the Caspian Sea. This is a short route and the infrastructure to pump gas through Azerbaijani territory already exists.

TANAP, developed by SOCAR in collaboration with Turkish Botas and the energy company TPAO, will deliver the Shah Deniz field’s gas to the Turkish-Greek border from eastern Turkey. The initial capacity of the pipeline will be 16 billion cubic meters of gas a year.

TANAP will link up with Trans-Adriatic (TAP) pipeline on the Turkish-Greek border. About six billion cubic meters of gas will be delivered to Turkey, and the rest to Europe. Currently, Ashgabat is negotiating with Baku and Ankara regarding its plans to export gas to Europe.

"At present, we are holding the tripartite negotiations with Azerbaijan and Turkey. I hope that we will come to an agreement. This will be another step towards the implementation of the European vector," said Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in April.

Turkmenistan's joining the TANAP gas pipeline project, initiated by Azerbaijan and Turkey, can add economic viability to the project. Ankara and Baku would receive additional revenues from the transit, while Ashgabat would realize its plans to diversify gas export routes.

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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova

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