Turkey Ratifies MoU on TANAP Project

Turkey ratified a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) for the Trans-Anatolian pipeline (TANAP) on Wednesday. 

According to Azernews, the agreement entered into force on the same date. 

In May, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz and Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev signed an agreement in Istanbul to increase Turkey's share in the TANAP project up to 30%. The parts also signed the document paving the way to the pipeline connecting Shah Deniz to the Turkish-Gas border.  

Despite some local opposition, Italy and Greece recently approved the Environmental Social Impact Assessment for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) for the respective sections. 

TANAP, developed by Azerbaijan’s SOCAR in collaboration with Turkey’s Botas and TPAO, will have an initial capacity of 16 bcm a year, with 62% of the gas directed to the European markets and the remaining delivered to Turkey. 

A few hours later, on Thursday, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle met the new Turkish Minister of European Affairs to speak about the relations between the EU and Turkey.

According to a note released by the European Commission, Füle and Volkan Bozkır also spoke about the ‘accession process of Turkey, including the upcoming Progress report.’