"The Southern Gas Corridor gives our country big financial opportunities. The stable income received from this allows the country to implement new social projects. The funds received from this project will ensure the sustainability of budget revenues, and a stable economy will create a reliable source for development," Amal Hasanli, an Azerbaijani economics expert, said. According to him, Karabakh's economic recovery and development, the lands returned to Azerbaijan, can benefit from growing revenues from gas transit.
Hasanli argues that the Southern Gas Corridor has a crucial role in ensuring Europe's energy security.
"The "Old Continent" is systematically working to diversify its energy channels. An integral part of this strategy can be considered the supply of Azerbaijani gas to European consumers. Therefore, the significance of this project for Europe is undeniable. Europe's readiness to receive Azerbaijani gas is primarily due to Azerbaijan being a reliable partner," says the expert, adding that the economic and political dividends received by Azerbaijan through the project will make a significant contribution to strengthening the position of the country as a regional leader.
The 7th Ministerial of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council took place on February 11 in Baku in a video conference format. The first ministerial was held on the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Board on 12 February 2015. The Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Natia Turnava, took part in this year's Ministerial.
The Minister called the historic energy event the fact that Caspian gas is currently being supplied to Europe via Georgia. The Southern Gas Corridor will expand and, it may also serve the Balkan region. After expansion, the total capacity of TAP will be 20 billion, and the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) - 31 billion. In total, the capacity of the South Caucasus pipeline will reach 30 billion cubic meters after expansion.
The Southern Gas Corridor consists of three pipelines - the South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion (SCPX), the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
One of the most important components of the Southern Gas Corridor, the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline Project (TANAP), was opened last year by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, along with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
