TPQ  Roundtable:Will All Pipelines Lead to Turkey?, Fall 2014

TPQ convened a discussion on the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) this Fall to assess geostrategic and economic dynamics of this route, for which the first foundations were laid in Baku on 20 September 2014. The speakers stressed the strategic importance of the SGC for European energy security in light of the impetus to diversify sources of natural gas imports and reduce energy dependence on Russia. The realization of the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), which will carry Azerbaijan gas to Turkey and via Turkey to Europe, was identified as a development that renders Azerbaijan and Turkey new regional energy leaders. Speakers of the event also discussed the viability of additional natural gas resources from Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Iraqi Kurdistan, and Turkmenistan joining the SGC. The following analysis reviews the main arguments and comments made by the speakers and participants.