ANKARA

Türkiye's energy minister and Azerbaijan's economy minister signed a comprehensive deal in Istanbul on Tuesday on capacity expansion for several natural gas pipelines.

Türkiye's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said that the deal would allow for additional gas volumes from Azerbaijan as well as natural gas from the Caspian region to Türkiye and Europe by 2030, although the exact volumes are yet to be announced.

Both countries have several pipelines that connect to their borders. The Igdir-Nakhchivan natural gas pipeline that will transmit gas to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Region in Azerbaijan will be added to the pipelines that Türkiye and Azerbaijan will jointly develop.

According to Bayraktar, gas will be scheduled for delivery to Nakhchivan via Türkiye this winter after the line soon opens for operations.

The minister acknowledged that the deal included discussions on expanding the capacity of two existing pipelines - the South Caucasus natural gas pipeline and the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP).

"In order to provide more gas supply to Europe via Türkiye, we will carry out joint studies on the expansion of connection capacities in Bulgaria and Greece, important European connection points," he added.

An agreement was also reached to transport Turkmenistan natural gas to Türkiye via Azerbaijan and Georgia, Bayraktar said.

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Cabbarov stressed that cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan would contribute to Europe's energy security.

He emphasized the significance of the Igdir-Nakhchivan Pipeline, pointing out that the supply of natural gas to the autonomous territory will enhance regional energy security and foster mutual cooperation.