At the ceremony held at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources on December 15, 2020, "Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Natural Gas Supply to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic" was signed between the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez and the Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, Perviz Şahbazov.
One More Page Added to the Azerbaijan-Türkiye Partnership in the Field of Energy
Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Mr. Fatih Dönmez, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Mr. Perviz Şahbazov, BOTAŞ General Manager Mr. Burhan Özcan and members of BOTAŞ Board of Directors Mr. Abdulvahit Fidan and Mr. M. Talha Pamukçu, Azerbaijani Ambassador and SOCAR officials attended the signing ceremony.
Mr. Dönmez who emphasized that Azerbaijan-Türkiye partnership in the field of energy that started with Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan Project and made a stride with Baku-Tblisi-Erzurum Project transcended continents with Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) said:
“We completed TANAP, which is the longest section of the Southern Gas Corridor, by crossing Anatolia from one end to the other. Thus, we have successfully accomplished a great project that will deliver Azerbaijani gas to our country and Europe. With TANAP we took another major step for our target of becoming an energy hub, which is a significant part of our National Energy and Mining Policy. Since June 30, 2018, until today, 8,1 billion cubic meters gas flowed through TANAP.”
Minister Dönmez reminded that the last link of the Southern Gas Corridor and the Trans-Adriatic Natural Gas Pipeline (TAP), which connects TANAP to Europe, started operations last month, and that the first natural gas was given to TAP and as of today 70 million cubic meters of gas flowed for commissioning purposes. Stating that commercial gas flow is expected in TAP in the near future, Mr. Dönmez continued as follows:
"Hence Europe will have taken a very important step in terms of natural gas supply security. Silk Road of Energy will reach Europe. Today, we will rivet Turkish-Azerbaijani partnership with a very significant project. Our energy partnership knit with the natural gas pipelines connecting continents and peoples and growing stronger with gigantic investments like STAR Refinery will earn a deeper meaning with Türkiye- Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline. Mr. President, when he visited Baku on February 25,2020 had promised to build a natural gas pipeline from Türkiye’s city of Iğdır to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic as soon as possible. Today, we are here to sign the memorandum of understanding that will constitute the first step of this project. Hopefully, we will complete this pipeline like the other natural gas projects we have realized together, in the shortest possible time.”
The New Line Will Carry 500 Million Cubic Meters of Gas Per Year
Underlining that works have been started in Türkiye-Nakhchivan Pipeline in order for Azerbaijan Turks living in Nakhchivan to have uninterrupted access to natural gas and enjoy the comfort of natural gas without any problems, he said “Our purpose is follow the traces of our ancestors whom brought civilization and welfare wherever they went, and bring the comfort of natural gas to Nakhchivan. Both the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan and we will do our best in order to bring this project to life. The project which will be realized with the cooperation of SOCAR and BOTAŞ, Nakhchivan will have natural gas coming from our country.”
Stating that Nakhchivan has a population of nearly 500 thousand and a natural gas consumption of 500 million cubic meters, Mr. Dönmez said, "With the gas to be delivered to the region via Iğdır, another one of the wounds caused by the Karabakh invasion will be healed. As such, Nakhchivan will be supplied with natural gas as securely as it was before the invasion of Karabakh.”
Minister Fatih Dönmez said that Nakhchivan-Türkiye Pipeline would be constructed as the continuation of the Iğdır Natural Gas Pipeline, which stems from Eastern Anatolia Natural Gas Main Transmission Line. Stating that the Turkish section of the line starting from Iğdır and extending to Nakhchivan Sederek will be 85 kilometers, Mr. Dönmez said the following:
"The pipeline, which will have an annual transport capacity of 500 million cubic meters, will be able to transport 1.5 million cubic meters of natural gas per day. With our pipeline, we will be able to meet all the natural gas needs of Nakhchivan today. Within the scope of the project, a metering station will also be established in Iğdır Dilucu. The station, which will be built on a large area of20 thousand square meters, will ensure the flow balance of the line. Accordingly, natural gas will reach Nakhchivan in the safest way.
The Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Parviz Şahbazov also emphasized that Azerbaijan and Türkiye are brother countries and said that brotherhood, mutual trust and a common vision will strengthen the relations between the two countries.
Reminding that natural gas is currently being sent to Nakhchivan via Iran, Minister Shahbazov stated that Azerbaijani gas would directly reach Nakhchivan through this pipeline.
After the speeches, “Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Natural Gas Supply to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic” was signed.
Tarih: 16/12/2020
