Another important step has been taken in line with Türkiye's goal of becoming an energy hub. The European connection of TANAP Project, which will carry Azerbaijani gas to Europe via Türkiye, was completed and inaugurated.
“Silk Road of Energy”
In the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP), dubbed the "Silk Road of Energy", the first signatures were inked in 2012 with the aim of transporting natural gas produced at the Shah Deniz 2 Gas Field in Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea and other fields south of the Caspian Sea, primarily to Türkiye and then to Europe.
The Groundbreaking Ceremony of TANAP Natural Gas Pipeline was held in Selim District of Kars on March 17, 2015; the Inauguration Ceremony of TANAP-Eskişehir Natural Gas Connection Line Project, which was carried out for the connection of TANAP Pipeline to BOTAŞ transmission system, was held on June 12, 2018.
Work also ended on the Phase-1 section of the project between Eskisehir and Edirne/Ipsala, and on November 30, 2019, the "TANAP European Connection Inauguration Ceremony" was held, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The ceremony was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, Serbian Parliamentary Speaker Maja Gojkovic, North Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Koco Angjushev and Bosnia Herzegniova Presidency Council Member Chiefk Jafarovic and Vice President Fuat Oktay, the President of the Turkish Parliament Mustafa Şentop, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez, Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Cahit Turhan , Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun, Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalın, Justice and Development Party Izmir Deputy Binali Yildirim, former President of the Parliament Ismail Kahraman, BOTAŞ senior management and BOTAŞ staff.
“Peace Project”
Speaking at the Inauguration Ceremony of TANAP European Connection, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , stated that 7.5 years of long and difficult process every step of which required patience and tenacity has been crowned with success as a result of the joint efforts of Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Georgia. "First of all, TANAP connects to the TAP (Trans Adriatic Natural Gas Pipeline) line to Europe from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye route, and as it stretches further, the countries along the route of Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina are also benefiting from this. While taking all these steps, I should especially emphasize that this is a regional project and a peace project " he said.
“TANAP is the Most Concrete Sign of Our Country's Peaceful Vision”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said energy has emerged as a very serious global issue as a result of a growing population and a growing global economy.
Stating that the world energy map has changed, new actors, projects and cooperation models have emerged in this field, Erdoğan expressed that he believes that effective cooperation between producer, transit and consumer countries is important in ensuring energy security.
“TANAP is the most concrete sign of our country's peaceful vision," said President Erdoğan, also noting that at a time when the world agenda is preoccupied with trade wars, terrorism, street events, instability, they have once again connected Europe and Asia with TANAP, where they have given messages of cooperation and partnership to the whole world together with their regions, and taken another step towards transforming Türkiye into an energy and trade hub of the three continents
"Türkiye Has Become The Focus Of International Power Today"
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said "Türkiye has been the focus of international power today. I hope that TANAP will have a long lifespan and will benefit Türkiye-Azerbaijan and other neighboring peoples,"
Aliyev also emphasized that the project will create bridges between the countries. Stating that the project will lead to larger agreements, Aliyev said 7 countries, 3 of which are EU members, will work together for many years from now on and will benefit from it. Aliyev said "This project brings cooperation, brings stability, brings long-term agreement. It wouldn't be right to look at these projects just as energy projects. I must inform you that our energy projects have led to other projects,"
"We Are Ready For Gas Flow To Europe"
Noting that the first stop of the pipeline is Anatolia, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez, reminded that the first gas flow from TANAP to Türkiye began last year. Expressing that more than 3 billion cubic meters of gas flowed from the project in the last 1.5 years, Dönmez continued his speech as follows:
“TANAP's 1850-kilometer journey to Anatolia ends today and the journey of gas to Europe begins. We're ready for gas flows into Europe. We entrust the next process to our European friends. TANAP will now bring together the strength of Türkiye-Azerbaijan cooperation with new countries and new people. TANAP, which will reach into Europe, is more than an energy project, it is a success story. This project, which is vital for the energy supply security not only of Türkiye but also of Europe, has combined different countries and colors in the energy crucible. In our project, at first 16 billion, and then 31 billion cubic meters of natural gas will contribute greatly to the energy future of both Türkiye and Europe. TANAP, the highlight of the Southern Gas Corridor, will merge with the Trans Adriatic Natural Gas Pipeline (TAP) and wrap around the waist of the Mediterranean like a belt. .”
Following the speeches, president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, Serbian Parliamentary Speaker Maja Gojkovic and other participants pressed the buttons prepared for the opening of the TANAP European Link.
Tarih: 4/12/2019
