''The novel coronavirus pandemic cannot help the project implementation,'' Vice President of International Researches Association, Economic Expert Nika Shengelia told report.ge on the TANAP project.
In his words, more pipelines crossing Georgia will provide Georgia with a higher level of security.
He also focuses on the financial benefit the country receives and will obtain from the project.
"Iran also shows interest in this project, as it wants to export its gas to Europe. I have no information on how much gas it will give to Georgia in return. The benefit is obvious. Georgia receives and will continue to receive transit fees in the form of natural gas and the cost of services. The full launch of this project is scheduled for 2026. The total volume of gas that will pass through the TANAP pipeline will be 31 billion cubic meters. Besides, Georgia will receive additional natural gas, which is also necessary for its energy and economy. Via TANAP, the European Union will supply natural gas from Azerbaijan, which will pass through Georgia and Turkey. This is important not only for the recognition of Georgia as a safe corridor but also for the European Union's energy security. I think that the coronavirus pandemic will not interfere with the implementation of the TANAP project," Nika Shengelia stated.
In 2015, a strategic gas pipeline project of three countries was laid the foundation at the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline presentation in Kars. Georgia became one of the key actors. The project aims to provide Europe with natural gas via Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. The project cost is about 11 bln USD.
ANAP Consortium Director General Saltuk Düzyol said that no obstacles had been observed since the launch of commercial operations.
''We can increase the volume following the demand in the nearest months,'' he said, adding ''the supplied volume and tariffs for gas transportation were defined in the 15-year transit agreement. Thus, the current world economic crisis will not stop us.''
The TANAP pipeline includes gas transportation from Shah Deniz mine via Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. At the Turkish-Greek border, TANAP connects the Trans-Adriatic (TAP) pipeline that crosses Greece, Albania, and Italy.
Georgia will receive more natural gas by 2023 after the TANAP starts operation. The volume of natural gas received for free will be four times more, reaching 1.15 billion cubic meters.
Currently, Georgia receives 300 million cubic meters of free gas, for being a transit country. The volume will reach 1.5 million cubic meters by 2026.
Bela Gelashvili
News Author