Azerbaijan turning Turkey into energy hub

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend: Azerbaijan is going to increase investments in Turkey until 2018 by about $20 billion, what makes Baku one of the most important economic partners of Ankara. Despite that Turkey is an energy-dependent country the geographical location gives it an ideal chance to play an important role in transiting energy resources. After the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in Turkey in 2002, Ankara began to pursue an active energy policy. And, it can be said that AKP has been able to achieve its goal. Azerbaijan’s support for Turkey in this issue is, of course, invaluable. Today, Azerbaijan and Turkey are implementing such an important energy project as TANAP – an Azerbaijani project that has no alternative at present. Importance of the TANAP, where Turkey has a stake, is in that it is not political, unlike other energy projects that are currently being negotiated. It is clear that Azerbaijan has never used its energy potential as a means of political pressure on other countries. This makes TANAP a more important and less risky project. Turkey will receive gas via TANAP in 2018. Previously, such countries as Iraq and Iran stated that they do not hide their interest in the project. If these countries start to export their gas to Europe, they will be unable to do anything without TANAP. Earlier, Turkish media reported that allegedly Iran and Turkey are ready to build a new gas pipeline that will supply Iranian gas to Europe. But at present, the economic situation in Iran does not allow it to invest in the construction of a new gas pipeline. Turkey does not attach much importance to this project either. Along with TANAP, Azerbaijan earlier also implemented such major energy projects as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline. When Azerbaijan and Turkey started to implement these projects, a number of countries considered them unrealistic. However, Azerbaijan was able to destroy all stereotypes. While addressing the Atlantic Council Energy and Economic Summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the importance of the Azerbaijani projects being implemented in the country. --- Rufiz Hafizoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Arabic news service, follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Follow us on Twitter @TRENDNewsAgency