Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline transported over 22 billion cubic metres of gas in 2024 State Committee says

In 2024, Azerbaijan’s main gas pipelines transported a total of 40,3 million cubic metres of gas, marking a 2.7 per cent increase compared to the previous year, the State Statistics Committee said.

Of this total, 56.6 per cent of the gas was transported through the South Caucasus Pipeline, specifically the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline, which plays a crucial role in exporting natural gas produced at the Shah Deniz gas condensate field, Caliber.Az reports.

During the reporting period, 22,8 million cubic metres of gas was transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline, reflecting a 4.3 per cent increase over the previous year. This pipeline remains a key infrastructure for Azerbaijan’s natural gas exports, connecting the country to regional markets and contributing to energy security in the region.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum South Caucasus pipeline is a significant natural gas pipeline that transports gas from the Shah Deniz gas field, located in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea, to Türkiye. It runs parallel to the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, forming an essential part of the region's energy infrastructure.

The pipeline began operations on May 21, 2006, when commissioning gas was pumped from the Sangachal Terminal. Commercial deliveries commenced on September 30, 2006, with the first gas deliveries from the Shah Deniz field starting on December 15, 2006.

However, on August 12, 2008, the pipeline was temporarily shut down for safety reasons due to the South Ossetia conflict. Gas supplies were resumed just two days later, on August 14, 2008.

The primary purpose of the pipeline is to supply natural gas to Türkiye and Georgia. As a transit country, Georgia has the right to take 5 per cent of the annual gas flow through the pipeline in lieu of a transit tariff, and it is also entitled to purchase an additional 0.5 billion cubic metres (18 billion cubic feet) of gas annually at a discounted price.

Additionally, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline is instrumental in delivering Caspian natural gas to Europe via the Southern Gas Corridor, which integrates with the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP).

By Vafa Guliyeva