The US Energy Information Administration said that Azerbaijan’s natural gas output rose by 36%, or more than 200 Bcf, from 2017 to 2019. The country has also expanded its pipeline connection, allowing for more exports to European markets. The second phase of the Shah Deniz natural gas and condensate field in the Caspian Sea mainly drives Azerbaijan’s gas production growth. BP Azerbaijan said Shah Deniz produced around 350 Bcf of natural gas in the first half of 2021, compared to around 175 Bcf in the first half of 2018
Several cross-border gas pipelines were constructed to facilitate exports from Shah Deniz. These export conduits are collectively referred to as Azerbaijan’s Southern Gas Corridor. The network includes the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), which links Shah Deniz to Georgia to its border with Turkey. From there, the SCP connects to the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), which runs through Turkey to the west. The TANAP then connects to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) at the Turkey-Greece border and ships gas to Greece, through Albania, and to Italy.
Thanks to the pipelines, Azerbaijan’s gas exports rose by more than 120 Bcf between 2017 and 2019. Georgia and Turkey are the main export markets for Azeri gas. The country also began shipping gas to Greece and Italy after the completion of TAP at the end of last year. The pipeline operator said it had delivered around 175 Bcf of gas to Europe since its inception.
