Türkiye to begin natural gas supply to Nakhchivan with new pipeline

Türkiye will officially started supplying natural gas to Nakhchivan through the newly completed Igdir-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline, following today’s planned inauguration ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Pipeline to enhance energy security in Nakhchivan

The Igdir-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline, which spans 85 kilometers within Türkiye, is designed to meet the energy needs of Nakhchivan, an autonomous exclave of Azerbaijan with a population of approximately 500,000.

The pipeline has an annual gas transport capacity of 500 million cubic meters, ensuring a stable supply for the region.

Erdogan and Aliyev laid the foundation of the project on September 25, 2023.

The completion of the pipeline marks a significant milestone in Türkiye-Azerbaijan energy cooperation, reinforcing the energy security of Nakhchivan through a direct supply route from Türkiye.

Strengthening Türkiye-Azerbaijan energy cooperation

The pipeline project is the result of an energy agreement signed between Türkiye and Azerbaijan in December 2020. Under this agreement, Azerbaijan committed to securing Nakhchivan’s natural gas supply by linking it to Türkiye’s energy infrastructure.

The pipeline is an extension of the Eastern Anatolia Natural Gas Transmission Line, further integrating the energy sectors of the two nations. It also complements existing regional energy projects, including:

• The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Natural Gas Pipeline,
• The Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP).

Expanding regional energy connectivity

The launch of this pipeline adds a new dimension to the strategic energy partnership between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

The project follows Türkiye’s broader vision of energy connectivity within the Turkic world and supports Azerbaijan’s goal of securing sustainable energy for its regions.

Beyond its regional significance, the project strengthens energy diversification efforts, contributing to Türkiye’s strategy of becoming an energy corridor between the Caspian region and Europe.