SOUTH PARS GAS MAIN MAY RUN THROUGH ARMENIA?

news.am
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

The volumes of oil and gas offered by Azerbaijan will not be sufficient
for launching the Nabucco project, Ivan Danilin, Leading Scientific
Expert, Institute of World Economy and International Relations, RF
Academy of Sciences, told NEWS.am, referring to the data published
by the State Oil and Gas Company of Azerbaijan, as well as to the
behavior of large companies exporting energy carriers from the region.

According to him, the full operation of the Nabucco pipeline
requires other exporter states’ participation. Danilin believes
that the Central Asian states having huge oil and gas resources are
interested in exporting natural gas to the European Union (EU) and
in its transit through the states that do have much influence on the
energy carriers market.

"Under the circumstances, gas export to the EU through Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Turkey is of strategic interest, but Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan have not yet resolved the territorial problems involving
the Caspian basin," Danilin said. He pointed out numerous other
obstacles to energy projects.

According to Danilin, Iran may become an alternative route for Central
Asian energy resources. Iran and Turkmenistan have taken some steps
in this direction: the states signed an agreement increasing Iranian
imports of Turkmen gas. Iran itself plans large gas exports to the EU.

Iran and Turkey have reached agreements on the construction of a gas
main from the South Pars gas field through Turkey, where the necessary
infrastructure is being created.

Danilin is sure that Turkey will become of the principal centers of
transit of energy resources to the EU if the South Pars and South
Stream (Russia) projects are launched. This, in turn, will enhance
Turkey’s regional influence.

One of the branches of the South Pars gas main may run through
Armenia. "I think it will be possible if the Armenian-Turkish relations
improve," Danilin said. The expert believes that Azerbaijan will
hardly be able to prevent the construction of the gas main.