Energy security and role of South Caucasus corridor underlined at Atlantic Council

Washington, April 6 (AZERTAC). US Department of State`s Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Carlos Pascual gave a presentation on “Crisis in Ukraine: energy factor” here at the Atlantic Council.

Pascual told of the gas supply disruptions in Europe, legal aspects impeding sale of imported gas to the third countries and shortcomings in the Europe`s energy security. According to him, Europe began to make decisions to prevent the use of gas supply as the political pressure. For example, the gas distribution network of some neighboring countries was renovated from north to south, from south to west and from west to north in order to facilitate gas transportation. Distribution system was also renovated in the Balkan states.

On the importance of the liquid petroleum gas supply to Europe, the envoy said Europe importance 45 billion cubic meters of liquid gas but this volume is going to rise in the future. He said Ukraine can reserve 35 billion cm of gas but its neighbors Moldova and Bulgaria are totally dependent on the Russian gas.

Pascual underlined the role of the South Caucasus Corridor in transportation of the Azerbaijani gas to the South Europe and ensuring energy security.