Deputy Economy Minister: Georgia has “key role” as Europe’s energy security partner

Georgia has proven to be a “valuable participant” of the Southern Gas Corridor, a route delivering gas from Azerbaijan to Europe, and plays a “key role” in energy resources reaching European markets, Romeo Mikautadze, the Deputy Economy Minister, said on Friday.

Mikautadze made the comment at a ministerial meeting of the Advisory Council for the SGC in Azerbaijan, where he met authorities at the Gulustan Palace in capital Baku.

The Minister said his country had become an “international player” following the implementation of TANAP, the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project, and TAP, the Trans-Adriatic pipeline. The facilities deliver gas from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz field to the European market.

He told the Council Georgia was playing a “vital part” in the diversification of international energy markets - mainly for the European Union - and strengthening of security of supply.

Now SGC is acquiring greater importance as Europe needs to expand its energy resources, making Georgia’s role as a reliable partner “prominent”, he added, noting the development could result in even more international projects at a later time.

It is “essential” that Georgia, as a link between the two global regions, fulfils the function of a connector “not only from the economic, political, social and cultural, but also from the energy point of view”, Mikautadze said.

The official also stressed his Government had “repeatedly confirmed its unwavering support” for regional transit initiatives, in a bid to create a “healthy, sustainable environment” considering the “needs of all citizens in the Black Sea region and beyond”.