ENTSOG Southern Corridor (SC) Gas Regional Investment Plan (GRIP) 2014-2023 / Main Report

b Proposed alternatives to the transportation of the Caspian gas

The following two projects proposed alternatives to the transportation of the Caspian gas through Turkey however the decision of SOCAR and BOTAŞ to form the TANAP Joint Venture has greatly reduced their chances of implementation within the time frame of the present Investment Plan. They might revive again in case of very impor- tant additional gas discoveries in the Caspian or if a transcaspian pipeline would car- ry Turkmen gas to the Azeri shore and/or if for geopolitical reasons a diversification from the Turkish route will be considered appropriate.

White stream (TRA-N-053)

This is a PCI project that consists of the implementation of an offshore pipeline in the Black sea from Georgia to Romania. In addition to being technically challenging (as the pipeline should cross the Black see in its longer direction) and relying on the permission by states with contrary interests (Russia or Turkey), the project did not show any activity in the last two years.

AGRI project (TRA-N-132)

The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector is partly a PCI (on Romanian terri- tory only) project that would be the LNG version of the White Stream. In order to overcome the technical challenges of laying an offshore pipeline in the Black sea from East to West, i.e. at the longer possible distance as well as any right-of-way is- sues, AGRI would liquefy the Caspian gas in Georgia and would deliver it to an LNG terminal in Constanţa on the Romanian shore. This project would however not ben- efit from the flexibility that a liquefaction plant confers to gas producers since it would most probably be limited to the Black sea market, as it is highly unlikely that LNG carriers would ever be allowed (for safety considerations) to cross the Bosphorus.

Image courtesy of Eustream

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Southern Corridor GRIP 2014–2023