The layout of the different pipelines in the Southern Gas Corridor

The Southern Gas Corridor is an initiative of the European Commission for a natural gas supply route from Caspian and Middle Eastern regions to Europe, proposed in 2008. The goal of the Southern Gas Corridor is to reduce Europe's dependency on Russian gas and add diverse sources of energy supply.[1] The route from Azerbaijan to Europe consists of the South Caucasus Pipeline, the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline, and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline.[2] The total investment of this route is estimated US$35 billion.[2] The main supply source would be the Shah Deniz gas field, located in the Caspian Sea.[3]

History

The European Union is dependent on other countries' supply sources of energy; in 2017 around 54% of the EU's gross inland energy consumption came from imported sources.[4] Russia has been the main supplier, despite its recent decline, in natural gas, coal and crude oil for a number of years. Russia's dispute with transit countries is a reason for concern regarding the reliance on the country's imports.

The initiative was proposed in the European Commission's Communication "Second Strategic Energy Review – An EU Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan" (COM/2008/781) in 2008.[5][6] The European Union identified a number of partner countries for this initiative, such as Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Egypt and Mashreq countries. Uzbekistan and Iran should represent, when political conditions permit, a further significant supply source for the EU.[6]

There have been numerous conferences revolving around the project. On 8 May 2009, the summit "Southern Corridor – New Silk Road" was held in Prague, addressing the purpose of the corridor.[7] In 2015, a Southern Gas Corridor Conference was hosted at the University of Houston, Texas. Representatives from gas companies, consulates, and other organizational authorities participated in developing relations and calculating productions. The countries that were represented at the conference were the United States, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Greece, and Italy.[8]

The fourth meeting of the ministers within the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council was held in Baku on 15 February 2018. Albania and Azerbaijan agreed to establish a new company to create project of the Ionian - Adriatic Pipeline (IAP).[9][10] SOCAR and Albgaz company of Albania as well as, gas distributing companies of some countries such as Montenegro, Croatia and Albania signed two documents related to design of new pipelines. This project will connect to the Southern Gas Corridor.[9][10]

The opening ceremony of the Southern Gas Corridor took place at the Sangachal Terminal with the participation of Ilham Aliyev on 29 May 2018.[11][12]

The opening ceremony of the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline took place in Eskisehir, Turkey with the participation of Presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Ukraine on 12 June 2018.[13][14]

On 15 November 2020, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline began commercial operations.[15]

Technical description

In the Trans-European Networks – Energy (TEN–E) program, the European Union designated three of the pipelines as of strategic importance (ITGI, Nabucco and White Stream)."[16] Also the Trans Adriatic Pipeline was identified that time as a Southern Corridor project.[5] It was planned that the Southern Corridor projects could provide the necessary transportation capacity to deliver 60–120 billion cubic metres per annum (2.1–4.2 trillion cubic feet per annum) of Caspian and Central Asian gas directly to Europe.[17]

As of 2017, the corridor would pass through Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Albania and Italy and consists of three main projects:

This combination of these pipelines will be nearly 3,500 kilometres (2,200 mi) long.[18] The total cost of these projects is estimated $45 billion.

There are other projects which fall under the SGC:

The project's current reserves are approximately 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas and 2.2 billion barrels of condensate.[19]

Financing

European Investment Bank

On 6 February 2018, The European Investment Bank (EIB) voted to hand out EUR 1.5 Billion, one of Europe's largest ever loans, to one of the EU's largest fossil fuel projects, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline. The loan approval followed the release of a study demonstrating that the Southern Gas Corridor could be as emissions-intensive or even more so than coal power.

A document obtained via a freedom of information request revealed that the European Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action and the Vice President of the European Commission in charge of the Energy Union had been lobbying the EIB to green-light loans to TAP and the eastern section of the Southern Gas Corridor, the Trans Anatolian Pipeline.[20]

Involvement of other financial institutions and stakeholders

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) already approved three loans for the Shah Deniz stage 2 gas field (US$200 million, US$250 million and US$100 million) as well as a US$500 million loan for TANAP, and stated its financial support to TAP could amount to EUR 1.2 billion. On top of US$250 million for Shah Deniz stage II (as part of a package with the EBRD and commercial banks), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved in December 2016 an additional US$1 billion for the Shah Deniz II gas field. The World Bank approved two US$400 million loans for Turkey and Azerbaijan for TANAP. The World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) approved a guarantee of up to US$950 million for TANAP against the risk of non-honoring of a sovereign financial obligation. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved a US$600 million loan for TANAP at an unannounced extraordinary virtual Board meeting on 21 December. (The AIIB's project summary also states the combined EIB and EBRD support for TANAP as US$2.1 billion, which suggests that, like the EIB, the EBRD is considering EUR 1 billion for TANAP.)[21]

Currently, the Azerbaijani government (Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan) owns 51% of the Southern Gas Corridor; the other 49% is owned by State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).[22]

As of 2017, The World Bank supplied a $400 million loan to BP, a major shareholder and operator of Shah Deniz JV. The Asian Development Bank has stated its planned financing of $600 million towards TANAP.[23]

As of 2017, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is considering a 2 million euro contribution towards the TAP.[24]

Controversies

Gas demand

Between 2010 and 2015, gas demand in the European Union has decreased more than 20%.[25] At the same time, gas projects are evaluated with a more than 70% higher gas demand scenario in 2030.[26] By 2021 gas consumption only returned to about 2010 levels.[27]

The EU has an overall surplus of gas import infrastructure and many of import capacities are underutilized.[28] On the other hand, the EU goals for energy efficiency would reduce gas demand in the next years. The EU has set itself a 20% energy savings target by 2020 when compared to the projected use of energy in 2020.[29]

European Climate Policy

The key targets of the EU on climate policy by 2030 are at least 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990, 27% of total energy consumption from renewable energy and 27% increase in energy efficiency.[30] According to the International Energy Agency, "no more than one-third of proven reserves of fossil fuels can be consumed prior to 2050 if the world is to achieve the 2 °C goal".[31] The European Investment Bank has stated its commitment to control climate change, yet is still aiming to finance the corridor.

Diversification

With the SGC, one of the goals on the EU is to diversify natural gas supply routes and reduce dependency from Russia.[1] Russia supplied about one third of the EU gas consumption in 2013, mainly through Gazprom.[32] However, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is to lend US$200 million to Lukoil to develop the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan. The Russian company Lukoil, whose CEO is an Azerbaijani businessman Vagit Alekperov, owns 10% of the field.[33]

Supporting the Azerbaijani government

Building SGC, European countries and companies support gas export from Azerbaijan and contribute to finance Azerbaijan's government. Many critics, watchdog groups and Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have criticized the Azerbaijani government as repressive or authoritarian, and also assert activists and journalists are regularly arrested on false charges and imprisoned. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) wrote in 2015, that "for more than a decade Azerbaijan has made shameless use of caviar diplomacy to charm European governments, its most important oil and gas clients".[34] The CEE BankWatch warns that "Developing Shah Deniz stage 2 and the Southern Gas Corridor is likely to cement further the oppressive structures of the Aliyev government".[3]

According to the reports prepared by European Strategic Intelligence and Security Center (ESISC) on March and April 2017, the publication of such information serves to create a climate against some countries including Azerbaijan to benefit Armenia which is led by different NGO's and its connections within the Council of Europe. In these reports, such activities of that Armenian connection are regarded as unilateral and biased hiding private interests of the network behind the purview of the defense of human rights,[35][36] but the activity of the ESISC itself is characterized as a part of the Azerbaijani propaganda (see European strategic intelligence and security center).

Over ten European media organizations have jointly investigated the Azerbaijani government, and have accused officials of laundering money to the United Kingdom. Dubbed the "Azerbaijani Laundromat", this scheme allegedly consisted of sending 2.5 billion euros to European politician and Azerbaijani elites; the money was also used to purchase luxury goods.[37] One of the reasons why the laundering took place was because the Azerbaijani government needed to keep a positive image in Europe to gain support for the Southern Gas Corridor. The corridor is a main reason for the laundering and can explain the government's heavy lobbying at the European level.[38] As a result of the scandal, more than 80 human right activists and opposing politicians were arrested and jailed in Azerbaijan.

Outside opinion and protests

The Southern Gas Corridor received mixed reactions from the public, and has been the target of many protests and petitions around the world. In Italy, there have been protests concerning the corridor and its damage to the environment. In March 2017, environmentalists protested against the removal of historical olive groves; this centuries-old grove was blocking the path of the TAP. Protesters blocked the construction site to prevent trucks and supplies from entering. Police involvement was involved, and broke up 300 protesters.[39] More than 60 olive trees have already been removed since the protest, to the locals' dismay.

More than 25 NGOs have also written a letter to the EIB Board of Directors and the bank's president, asking for the European Investment Bank to stop funding the TANAP due to the human rights violations the project has caused. The letter states that the Azerbaijani government has used forms of torture, imprisonment, and disruption to protesters, journalists, and other politicians; human rights monitors have also not been able to enter Azerbaijan.[40]

References

  1. 1 2 "Gas and oil supply routes". European Commission. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 Columns. "Southern Gas Corridor". www.tap-ag.com. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Pipedreams: Public subsidies for Lukoil in Azerbaijan". Issuu. Bankwatch Network. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "Energy production and imports". European Commission. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  5. 1 2 "EU aims to solve 'Southern Gas Corridor' puzzle". EurActiv.com. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Communication from the Commission of the European Parliament, the Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Second Strategic Energy Review – An EU Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan". European Commission. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Summit "Southern Corridor – New Silk Road"". Government of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  8. ↑ "Southern Gas Corridor Conference at the University of Houston, TX". Azerbaijan Center. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Agreement on IAP Pipeline and Albania's Gasification Achieved - Invest in Albania". Invest in Albania. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  10. 1 2 "SOCAR Balkans will carry out the FEED of the IAP pipeline – Caspian Barrel". caspianbarrel.org. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  11. ↑ "Ilham Aliyev attended official opening ceremony of Southern Gas Corridor". en.president.az. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "Azerbaijan inaugurates Southern Gas Corridor key terminal". euractiv.com. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "First Gas Arrives in Turkey Through Pipeline From Azerbaijan". Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  14. ↑ "First gas arrives in Turkey through pipeline from Azerbaijan". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 12 June 2018. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  15. ↑ Geropoulos, Kostis (16 November 2020). "Trans Adriatic Pipeline begins commercial operations". New Europe. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  16. ↑ van Aartsen, Jozias (4 February 2009). "Project of European Interest № NG3. Activity Report September 2007 – February 2009" (PDF). European Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  17. ↑ Joshua Chaffin, EU plan to loosen Russia's grip on energy, Financial Times, 13 November 2008.
  18. ↑ Columns. "Southern Gas Corridor". www.tap-ag.com. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  19. ↑ "Southern Gas Corridor: Delivering Azerbaijani Gas to Europe" (PDF). www.delegate.com. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  20. ↑ "Controversial gas pipeline gets EUR 1.5 billion in public money amid massive climate risk". Bankwatch.org. February 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018. Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license.
  21. ↑ "Southern Gas Corridor". Retrieved 7 March 2018. Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license.
  22. ↑ "Southern Gas Corridor: Delivering Azerbaijani Gas to Europe" (PDF). www.delegate.com. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  23. ↑ "EBRD to provide $500M for TANAP". www.dailysabah.com. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  24. ↑ "The Southern Gas Corridor-Heavy Public Support for a Questionable Project" (PDF). www.urgewald.org. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  25. ↑ "File:Gross inland consumption of natural gas in EU-28 (1), in thousand terajoules (Gross Calorific Value) new.png - Statistics Explained". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  26. ↑ "Energy Security and the Connecting Europe Facility". Third Generation Environmentalism Ltd. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  27. ↑ "Natural gas supply statistics".
  28. ↑ "Rethinking the security of the European Union's gas supply | Bruegel". bruegel.org. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  29. ↑ "Energy Efficiency - Energy - European Commission". Energy. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  30. ↑ Anonymous (23 November 2016). "EU climate action - Climate Action - European Commission". Climate Action - European Commission. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  31. ↑ "International Energy Agency - World Energy Outlook 2012 - Executive Summary" (PDF).
  32. ↑ "Clingendael International Energy Programme - Russian Gas Imports to Europe and Security of Supply (Factsheet)".
  33. ↑ "Lukoil Overseas: Shah Deniz Gas Condensate Field Develop. II". www.ebrd.com. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  34. ↑ "'Azerbaijan is turning into a dictatorship – we shouldn't fall for its caviar diplomacy'". International Federation for Human Rights. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  35. ↑ "THE ARMENIAN CONNECTION" (PDF). esisc.org. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  36. ↑ "THE ARMENIAN CONNECTION Chapter 2" (PDF). esisc.org. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  37. ↑ "Everything you need to know about the Azerbaijani Laundromat". the Guardian. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  38. ↑ "Southern Gas Corridor is the missing piece of Azerbaijani Laundromat puzzle". The Guardian. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  39. ↑ "Italian police disrupt protest to prevent olive grove removal". Reuters. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  40. ↑ "Human rights concerns over EIB loan to TANAP" (PDF). Counter-Balance. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
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