(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. The Trans Adriatic
Pipeline (TAP) is a strategically and economically important
projects for Europe, which creates a new equilibrium for the
European countries, shifting the gas center from north more to the
south, Gianmarco Donolato, Head of energy and environment division
at Italian Geopolitica research center, told trend .
According to the expert, TAP, as well as the Trans-Anatolian
Pipeline (TANAP), were launched long before the war outbreak in
Ukraine, which led to energy crisis in the region, and now they are
providing Europe with energy security by means of
diversification.
"Therefore, the current geopolitical situation in Eastern Europe
can only accelerate processes that had already been going on. As
the European section of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), TAP has
the capacity to transport approximately 10 bcm of gas per year, but
can potentially be expanded to 20 bcm," he said.
SGC's expansion potential is great and, at the same time, this
initiative involves many partners, the expert said, adding that it
will be beneficial, as well as challenging, as more interests will
have to be taken into account.
"In this regard, Italy, Greece and Türkiye will be placed at the
center of the energy market, which will require their active
involvement in broader political processes," Donolato added.
The expert also pointed out that it will be beneficial for
Azerbaijan to join such European initiative as the EU Global
Gateway. As he explains, this might be a way to exploit the new
trends at best and adapt Azerbaijan's resources to the main
European markets.
"Europe will not stop being such an important consumer and its
market will not be disrupted overnight. Accompanying the transition
and be part of it will be challenging, but might be beneficial in
the long term," he concluded.
Azerbaijan's gas exports to Europe started on December 31, 2020
with the commissioning of the SGC comprising, beside TAP, of the
South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion and TANAP.
Export of Azerbaijani gas to Europe amounted to 11.4 bcm from
January through December 2022. In total, 22.3 bcm were exported
from Azerbaijan in 2022.
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