EurActiv: Southern gas corridor takes shape

A southern gas corridor is taking shape with one branch leading to Italy via the Trans Adriatic pipeline (TAP), and the other one, called "the northern route", to be built either by the Nabucco consortium or the South East Europe Pipeline project (SEEP) - which enjoys the support of an Azerbaijan gas consortium - the TAP director told EurActiv.

TAP Managing Director Kjetil Tungland dismissed the views recently expressed by a competitor, who said the decision by Azerbaijan that TAP should build the Greece-Italy link of the southern gas corridor was provisional.

"I can confirm the following: I have received a letter from SOCAR," Tungland said, referring to the Azerbaijani state gas company.

"In the letter, TAP is invited into 'exclusive negotiations' with Shah Deniz. The letter also states that the decision, by the Shah Deniz consortium, has been unanimously supported by all the members of the consortium, and that it is final. So the three words 'exclusive', 'unanimous' and 'final' are contained in the letter and it is clear that there is nothing provisional about their decision," Tungland said.

He was categorical that TAP didn't need the rival Turkey-Greece-Italy Interconnector, or ITGI, as a partner. Shah Deniz is a major Caspian Sea gas field managed by SOCAR and international partners.

"We don't see that we should dilute Shah Deniz' decision by joining forces with ITGI, that would be like taking several steps backwards," he stressed.  MORE