(Tbilisi. March 1, 2003. Civil Georgia) – “The United States welcomes the announcement that the Shah Deniz natural gas project in Azerbaijan has been approved by its commercial partners and is now entering the construction phase,” statement of the US Department of State issue on February 28 reads.
This project includes the South Caucasus Gas Pipeline, running from Baku through Tbilisi to Eastern Turkey. Its approval is a milestone in the development of the East-West Energy Corridor, which also includes the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.
The statement says that the Shah Deniz project will contribute to the economic development of Azerbaijan; it will enhance Georgia’s energy security by diversifying supply and bring a reliable and competitive supply of gas into the Turkish market.