Southern Gas Corridor is EU’s top priority - official

The Southern Gas Corridor remains the top priority with regard to Europe's energy security and the European Union (EU) will keep supporting its implementation and expansion, Azernews reported on June 3, citing the head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, ambassador Malena Mard, as saying during the opening of the 21st International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition Incorporating Refining and Petrochemicals.

Mard noted the Southern Gas Corridor will also entail significant mutual benefit not only in terms of energy security, but also in terms of employment creation and social economic development.

The EU attaches great importance to the bilateral cooperation and the implementation of this project, the head of the EU Delegation said.

Mard went on to add that since the signing of the joint declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor, significant progress has been achieved in the implementation of this project.

She also emphasized the significance of the final investment decision by Shah Deniz Consortium in December, 2013.

The EU believes the Southern Gas Corridor should carry at least 10 percent and ideally 20 percent of the European demand.

Copyright: Azernews, 2014