Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline

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Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline

The Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline is a proposed underwater pipeline that would run under the Caspian Sea from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan. It would connect with Azerbaijan’s Sangachal Terminal near Baku and, through existing and planned links, feed gas into Europe as part of the Southern Gas Corridor. The idea is to move Turkmen (and possibly Kazakh) natural gas to Turkey and Europe, bypassing Russia and Iran.

Key facts
- Length: about 300 kilometers
- Capacity: up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas per year
- Estimated cost: around $5 billion

What it would do
- Deliver gas from Turkmenistan to Europe, joining the Southern Gas Corridor.
- Connect with pipelines through Azerbaijan, Turkey, and on to Europe (including TANAP and TAP).

History in brief
- Proposed in the 1990s, with studies and talks among Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and others.
- Shelved around 2000 due to opposition from Russia and Iran and unresolved Caspian Sea legal issues.
- Interest revived in 2006 after Russia–Ukraine gas disputes.
- In the 2010s, the EU showed support and Turkey indicated willingness to buy Turkmen gas via the pipeline; the Southern Gas Corridor (including TAP and TANAP) advanced.
- The Caspian Sea’s legal status was clarified by a 2018 convention, and a 2021 Dostluk field agreement between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan improved cooperation prospects.
- By 2022, some partners questioned the project’s financial viability, given long-term European demand and contracts.

Challenges
- Geopolitical: opposition from Russia and Iran; ongoing legal questions about Caspian Sea rights.
- Environmental and regulatory concerns cited by opponents.
- Economic: high cost and the need for long-term commitments from buyers.

Current status
- The pipeline has not been built. It remains a talking point in Europe’s efforts to diversify gas supplies, tied to the broader Southern Gas Corridor and future energy demand.