Trans-Caspian 2 Gas Pipeline
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Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline (TCP) is a proposed pipeline which would transport gas from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan across the Caspian sea via an undersea pipeline.[1] It is similar to the proposed Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline.
Contents
Location
The pipeline would take gas from the western shore of Turkmenistan and transport gas via an undersea pipeline to the eastern coast of Azerbaijan.
Project Details
- Operator: W-Stream Caspian Ltd
- Parent Company: Turkmengaz, Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC)
- Current capacity:
- Proposed capacity: 16 billion cubic meters per year
- Length:
- Status: Proposed
- Start Year:
History
The Trans-Caspian pipeline has been discussed since 1996, but has faced many obstacles which has made it seem far from realistic until recent years. Ever since the fall of the Soviet Union, the legal standing of Caspian Sea territory between the former Soviet states of Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan had been in question. In addition to legal ambiguities, there has been far too many countries surrounding the Caspian Sea involved in the project negotiations making the project difficult to get off the ground. Both Russia and Iran have also been historically opposed to such a pipeline project. However, the legal issues surrounding the Caspian Sea have been slowly resolved over time and Europe's desire to build the Southern Gas Corridor have revived the potential for the development of the TCP.[2]
In 2006, due to a dispute between Russia and Ukraine, gas deliveries from Russia ceased and Europe was faced with a short supply of gas. Interest in the project increased and slowly fizzled until the more recent Russian-Ukranian crisis sparked renewed interest in the TCP.[3]
However, the legal issues surrounding the Caspian Sea have been slowly resolved over time and Europe's desire to build the Southern Gas Corridor may have revived the potential for the development of the TCP.[2]
Background
The Trans-Caspian Pipeline is planned as part of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) and has been identified as a project of Common Interest of the EU (PCI).[4] While the interest in the TCP project has been renewed since 2011, the political difficulties of the region may make the project non-viable.
In addition to the political difficulties surrounding the pipeline project, the Turkstream natural gas pipeline may bypass the need for the Trans-Caspian pipeline, possibly making the project irrelevant and commercially non-viable. Since the Turkstream pipeline would deliver Russian gas across under the Black Sea into Turkey and further west, the TCP might be considered unnecessary.[5]
Proposal for two Trans-Caspian Gas Pipelines
In May 2019 a pre-FEED (front end engineering and design) study began for a plan to build two Trans-Caspian pipelines.[6] The Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline would follow an expanded SGC route (South Caucasus Pipeline, Tanap and Tap) to a final destination of Italy. The Trans-Caspian 2 Gas Pipeline would follow the White Stream route from the Georgian coast, entering the EU in Romania and reaching western Europe via existing pipelines in Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Slovakia and onwards.[6]
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ Trans-Caspian Pipeline, W-Stream Trans-Caspian, accessed April, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Trans-Caspian pipeline project: Caspian fantasy turns into reality?, Trend News Agency, December 6, 2017
- ↑ EU Moves Forward with Trans-Caspian Pipeline, Tengri News, accessed April, 2018
- ↑ Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline - the Project of Common Interest, W-Stream, November, 2015
- ↑ Admir Celovic, Turkish Stream May Seal the Fate of the Trans Caspian Pipeline, Pipeline Technology Journal, May 22, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Third time lucky for Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline?, Petroleum Economist, Jun. 6, 2019
