The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced last Thursday that all final approvals necessary to start the Baku-Tblisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline project, which aims to transport Azerbaijan natural gas to international markets, were given by the parties.
“Seven companies, the partners of the Shahdeniz natural gas basin and Baku-Tblisi-Erzurum pipeline project, gave final approval today in the meeting in Azerbaijan’s Baku,” said the statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
The project will include developemnt of the basin and establishment of a pipeline, and will cost $3.2 billion.
Construction of the 690 kilometer pipeline will start in 2004 and first natural gas transportation to Turkey will be realized in 2006.
Turkey will take two billion cubic meters (2 BCM’s)of natural gas in 2006 from this pipeline, the capacity of which will reach 6.6 billion cubic meters (6 BCM’s) gradually and will continue for 15 years.
The Baku-Tblisi-Erzurum natural gas pipleine is aiming to transport Azerbaijan natural gas first to Turkey and then on to Europe.
‘With the realization of this project Turkey’s role to be an energy bridge between the Middle East, Caspian Basin and European markets will strengthen, said the statement.
(Turkish Daily News, 01/03/03)