Ecologists give a green light to the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline
The research confirming the ecological safety of subsea pipeline became an important moment in the implementation of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline project that purposed to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan under the Caspian through Azerbaijan to European consumers. Eric Somelar, Counsellor on Energy of the EU representation in Azerbaijan, stated it to journalists. According to him, if earlier opponents of this project argued that the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline is dangerous for the ecology of the sea and the region, now there is a scientifically proved counterargument in favor of its subsea laying. The UE representative was cited the Russian Gazprom as an example, which laid seabed gas pipeline on the Baltic Sea floor with a transport capacity of up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Eric Somelar stressed that the European Commission is actively in contact with the government of Turkmenistan on the construction of a is a Caspian subsea pipeline between Turkmenbashy in Turkmenistan, and Sangachal Gas Terminal, located some 55 kilometres southwest of the capital Baku, Azerbaijan. The diplomat stressed that the Southern Gas Corridor from the very beginning was purposed for the natural gas supply not only from the Shah Deniz gas field, but also from Caspian and Middle Eastern regions to Europe. He particularly noted that in the near future important talks between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan on this issue are expected.
