Natia Turnava: Georgia Supports Development of South Gas Corridor

“Georgia supports the development of the South Gas Corridor. It is important that Europe will receive natural gas via the mentioned corridor, which will pass the territory of Georgia.

The project is strategically important not only for Georgia but also for Europe, and, at the same time, it has a substantial material benefit for our country. By 2022, we will be able to get more than twice much natural gas via this pipeline,” – the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Natia Turnava stated at the South Gas Corridor Advisory Council Fifth Ministerial Meeting held on February 20 in Baku.

As the Deputy Minister highlighted, the project is a manifestation of political unity among the states of the region for achieving a common strategic goal to serve the stockpiles of Caspian hydrocarbons to the European market.

The South Gas Corridor Advisory Council Fifth Ministerial Meeting was officially opened by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and the EU Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, Günther Oettinger, who is also co-chair of the South Gas Corridor Advisory Council.

Speaking at the plenary session and discussing the achievements and challenges of the South Gas Corridor, the Head of the Georgian Government delegation, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Natia Turnava emphasized the importance of the corridor not only for the supply of natural gas for the European market but also in the region to maintain stability. He said that it is important for Georgia to end the second phase of the Shah-Deniz, which will significantly increase the supply of gas not only for Georgia but also to the countries on which the TANAP and the TAP gas pipeline passes. It should be noted that Europe will receive the natural gas through this route by 2020.

In the frames of the visit to Azerbaijan, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava held a bilateral meeting with BP Regional President Gary Jones, as well as with the heads of large Azerbaijan energy companies.