Attack raises South Caucasus Pipeline concerns

摘要

Gas flows from Azerbaijan’s offshore Shakh Deniz field to Turkey have been cut following an attack on a pipeline — the third time a Turkish line has been hit since a ceasefire between Ankara and Kurdish rebels broke down last month. The attack on the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) took place early on 4 August in the northeast Sarikamis region. Ankara blames Kurdish group the PKK for the attack. SCP can handle 7bn m3/yr of gas, but capacity is due to be expanded to 20bn m3/yr to allow it to carry more Caspian supply to southeast Europe. This forms part of the “southern corridor” project, which involves the construction of the Trans-Anatolia and Trans-Adriatic pipelines.