The military conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia causes a feeling of instability in the region, leading to the region's investment attractiveness.
It may have a high cost for the regional countries' economies.
Report.ge news agency tried to find out how the Azerbaijan-Armenia military conflict can influence the TANAP project, as its beginning is near the town where there is shooting.
The conflict for the Karabakh region has been an unresolved problem between the two countries for years.
Currently, the conflict has emerged at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, Tavush Province, nearer to the TANAP pipeline beginning than – Karabakh.
''The southern gas corridor represents an initiative of the European Commission supported by the US. As reported, the pipeline aims to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas and diversify energy sources. All this, naturally, irritates Russia. The tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan is beneficial for Russia, to make Europe see that it plans to receive gas from an unstable region and discredit the importance of the southern gas corridor,'' President of International Researches and Forecasts Vepkhia Giorgadze says, adding that one of the benefits of the project is to support Europe to become independent and diversify the energy market.
"We know that Russia and Germany want to construct the North Line 2, and the sanctions by America caused the suspension of the project construction. Russia saw a fiasco in the Middle East (Syria, Lybia), and the oil/gas price dropped to a minimum at the world market, let alone the Russian violations of the mining/supplying issues, with the effect of the novel coronavirus destroying all the Russian economy. Thus, Russia will try to cause problems where it can,'' Giorgadze says, adding that unfortunately, Russia created many conflicts in South Caucasus and tried to manage it.
''We should also remember that Russia has launched military production and export. Here we should mention Turkey's interest, as it becomes an energy hub, and its region includes 70% of the world's natural gas reserves Europe needs. Turkey has become very strong. It will not allow Russia to deepen the conflict. Europe and the US have the same interests. Thus, Russia is in the deadlock and will have to retreat,'' Expert Giorgadze says.
Giorgadze believes that the more independent Europe becomes from Russia, the more successfully we will be able to bring our country's problems to the EU. Giorgadze believes that the successful implementation of the TANAP project, which is the longest pipeline in our region and Europe, will be another proof of our region's great potential.
According to the expert, such projects significantly bring the participating countries closer together, as common economic interests are strengthened, followed by a policy adjustment that contributes to the stability and development of the region.
"The South Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline TANAP is of great importance for the security of Georgia and the region. Through this corridor, Georgia becomes an international player; the country becomes necessary for Europe, which has a positive impact on the acceleration of European integration, "Vepkhia Giorgadze said.
Talking to report.ge, the expert also emphasizes the economic and energy importance of TANAP.
"Georgia will receive 5% of natural gas from transit (TANAP) as a share, which will provide 50% of total domestic consumption by 2023. Besides, Georgia will receive 1.1 billion cubic meters annually from the TANAP project. Our domestic consumption averages 2.2 billion cubic meters per year. By 2026, the load will gradually increase to 31 billion cubic meters. And we will be able to receive 1.5 billion cubic meters, and in 2030, with a capacity of 60 billion cubic meters, we will have the opportunity to receive 3 billion cubic meters per year, "Giorgadze explained.
Bela Gelashvili
News Author