Work carried out in transportation allows using opportunities more rationally
A conference titled “At the junction of East and West: New Energy and Communication Opportunities” organized by the New Azerbaijan Party was held in Baku on December 23.
A conference titled “At the junction of East and West: New Energy and Communication Opportunities” organized by the New Azerbaijan Party was held in Baku on December 23.
Speaking at the conference, the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Deputy Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party, Executive Secretary Ali Ahmadov, noted that the new dividends brought by the global energy and transport projects realized at the initiative of Azerbaijan in recent years, saying that these projects are aimed at improving the well-being of people.
The deputy prime minister underlined the great potential for the development of Azerbaijan's economy by signing a new agreement on Azeri, Chirag and Gunashli fields, adding that has been a reliable source for achieving greater progress in all spheres of the country's life.
Ahmadov said that Azerbaijan is at the crossroads of East and West, Europe and Asia, and this geographical advantage is used by the head of state skillfully. The recently commissioned Baku-Tbilisi Kars railway unambiguously affirms its role in the implementation of a global project of the restoration of the historical Silk Road of Azerbaijan.
While making remarks at the conference Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Javid Gurbanov said that the work carried out in the field of transportation in Azerbaijan makes it possible to use the country’s transit opportunities more rationally and broadly.
He noted that currently work is underway on integration of Azerbaijan’s national transportation system to the international system.
He emphasized that Azerbaijan is located at the intersection of important routes and the rational use of this advantage can become an important source for replenishment of the treasury.
Railway transport, which is one of the main parts of the transport system of Azerbaijan, is now at a stage of rapid development, Gurbanov said.
In order to ensure the integration of the national transport system into the international transport system, railway, maritime, automobile, airway, pipeline transportations are widely analyzed and ways of more effective use are identified, he added.
Gurbanov also noted the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway would turn Azerbaijan into an important transport and logistics center in Eurasia.
Speaking at the event, Khoshbakht Yusifzade, first vice-president of state oil company SOCAR said that as of today, $25 billion have been spent for the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project.
Yusifzade said it is needed to spend about $44-45 billion for the project’s implementation.
“We have already done a great job in this direction. The Trans-Anatolian pipeline [TANAP, a major part of the Southern Gas Corridor] will be ready in 2018, and the TransAdriatic pipeline [TAP, also a part of the Southern Gas Corridor] will be ready in 2019,” he said.
“Azerbaijan will provide Europe with gas via these pipelines. Questions arise sometimes that do we have enough gas to provide Europe? The country’s proven gas reserves total 2.6 trillion cubic meters, and according to unconfirmed reports, gas reserves reach six trillion cubic meters,” added Yusifzade.
Iran and Russia may also join the Southern Gas Corridor, according to him.
The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It envisages the transportation of gas from the Caspian region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.
At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage.
As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans Adriatic Pipeline.