How will Azerbaijan provide additional gas exports to Europe? |
One of the main issues in Europe after Russia’s attack on Ukraine is, of course, energy security. After all, the continent’s serious energy dependence on Russia gives this country additional opportunities for maneuver. That’s why European Union Energy from Russia, especially natural gas dependentlis very interested in eliminating the burden. Azerbaijan is one of the countries considered as an alternative to reduce and then completely eliminate that dependence. that’s right Azerbaijan It does not play a decisive role in the supply of gas to Europe. Last year, a total of 8.2 from here to Europe billion cubic meter natural gas sent. This volume is 155 that Russia exports to Europe every year billion cubic meter of gas may seem insignificant. For example, last year Azerbaijan The volume of natural gas sold to Europe was only about 5 percent of Russia’s sales. Come on European Union in supplying the continent with natural gas Azerbaijan also wants to increase its role. According to the agreement signed between the parties in July of this year, until 2027 Azerbaijan Europe which he sold gas volume 20 billion it is planned to be increased to cubic meters. It raises the question: Azerbaijan Is it ready to more than double the volume of gas it sells to Europe in five years? Do the existing resources allow to increase gas exports to Europe?
Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov also made a statement on this topic. The minister told journalists in an interview: “We are already negotiating with our partners both abroad and within the country. Our idea is to increase production. Our goal is to double these volumes (gas supply – ed.) by 2027. This is our top priority. The issue of how such amounts will be distributed among different European countries should be determined by the member states of the European Union.
Official figures show that Azerbaijan’s natural gas production has increased in recent years. if you are an angel Last year, the country’s natural gas production was 2020compared to the year 20 increased by almost a percent and reached 44 billion cubic meters. The result of the first eight months of this year shows that there is an increase in natural gas production again. JanuaryIn August, a total of 30.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas was produced in the country. This is compared to the same period of the previous year 10 percent or an increase of 2.7 billion cubic meters.
In the same period, the growth in natural gas exports of the country is higher. During the first eight months of this year, almost half of the natural gas produced in Azerbaijan – 14.4 billion cubic meters – was exported. This means an increase of exactly 23 percent compared to last year. The share of European countries in Azerbaijan’s natural gas export is 50 percent, Turkey’s share is 38 percent, and Georgia’s share is 12 percent.
The natural gas produced by Azerbaijan this year was mainly provided by the “Shah Deniz” field. During the eight months of the year, 9 billion cubic meters of gas produced by “Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli”, 16.4 billion cubic meters by “Shahdeniz”, 5.2 billion cubic meters SOCAR took out. In the coming years as well Azerbaijan wants to increase natural gas production at the expense of “Shah Deniz” field. So that, Thanks to the launch of the third stage of the “Shah Deniz” project, it is planned to produce an additional 15 billion cubic meters of gas from this field by 2030. In addition to the “Shahdeniz” field, “Absheron” and “Karabagh” fields will enable the country to export additional natural gas. Primary according to statements, “Absheron1.5 billion cubic meters of gas will be extracted from the field at the initial stage. It is planned to increase this indicator to 5 billion cubic meters in the next years. The “Garabagh” field, whose total reserves are estimated at 13 billion cubic meters, is planned to start operating by 2025. The use of this field will allow the country to produce 1.5-1.8 billion cubic meters of additional natural gas every year.
The natural gas produced by Azerbaijan this year was mainly provided by the “Shah Deniz” field. During the eight months of the year, 9 billion cubic meters of gas produced by “Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli”, 16.4 billion cubic meters by “Shahdeniz”, 5.2 billion cubic meters SOCAR took out. In the coming years, Azerbaijan wants to increase natural gas production at the expense of the “Shah Deniz” field. So that, Thanks to the launch of the third stage of the “Shah Deniz” project, it is planned to produce an additional 15 billion cubic meters of gas from this field by 2030. In addition to the “Shahdeniz” field, “Absheron” and “Karabagh” fields will enable the country to export additional natural gas. Primary according to statements, 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas will be extracted annually from the “Absheron” field at the initial stage. It is planned to increase this indicator to 5 billion cubic meters in the next years. The “Garabagh” field, whose total reserves are estimated at 13 billion cubic meters, is planned to start operating by 2025. The use of this field will allow the country to produce 1.5-1.8 billion cubic meters of additional natural gas every year.
Due to the recent increase in investments, electricity production due to alternative energy sources will increase the natural gas export of the country. By increasing the share of alternative energy sources in the production of electricity, the government will have the opportunity to direct the volume of natural gas used for the production of electricity to export. On the other hand, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iran the swap agreement signed between them, i.e., gas exchange, may also have an effect. As a result of this agreement, the volume of natural gas obtained by Azerbaijan is not very large. However, according to experts, if it becomes possible to import more natural gas to Europe, there is an opportunity to extract more gas through this agreement.
Transport means also play an important role in increasing Azerbaijan’s natural gas exports to Europe. Currently, Azerbaijani gas is transported to Europe mainly through the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The statement issued by the consortium today states that two more compressor stations will be needed to double the current capacity of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). One compressor needs to be built in Greece and the other in Albania. At the same time, TAP has to modernize the two existing stations. “However, there is no need to build new pipelines, as the current pipeline is capable of receiving 20 billion cubic meters of gas per year,” the statement said.