Georgia to Receive Around 1 Billion m3 Free Natural Gas from TAP Pipeline

TAP pipeline will grow Georgia’s geopolitical role for Europe. Furthermore, the country will receive direct economic benefits, Temur Gochitashvili, head of the supervisory board of Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC) noted.

So far, the pipeline supplied Azerbaijani’s natural gas only to the region’s countries, but now Azerbaijani gas will be transported to Europe too, he said. “The political and social benefits accrued after the development of SCP, TANAP, and TAO pipelines of the Southern Corridor are of crucial importance. So far, Georgia represented only a regional gas transiting country, now it has become a global player.

The Azerbaijani natural gas transported by Georgia will play an essential role in diversifying EU energy markets and ensuring gas supply issues. Thus, this pipeline comprises two aspects: growing geopolitical importance and direct economic effects. There is a direct interest in this regard too. Georgia will buy 5% of the transported gas at preferential rates. Furthermore, every year Georgia will receive around 1 billion cubic meters of gas free of charge”, Gochitashvili noted. TAP’s annual transportation capacity is 10 billion cubic meters.