Turkiye will begin exporting natural gas to Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan this week via the newly completed Igdır-Nakhchivan pipeline, strengthening regional energy ties.
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| The Igdır-Nakhchivan pipeline, now operational, supplies natural gas from Turkiye to Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan, enhancing regional energy security. Image Courtesy: DHA/ DS |
Ankara, Turkiye — March 3, 2025:
Turkiye will begin exporting natural gas to Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan this week via the newly completed Igdır-Nakhchivan pipeline, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has announced. The pipeline, linking Turkiye’s eastern province of Igdır to Sederek in western Azerbaijan, has an annual capacity of 500 million cubic meters and will ensure a stable energy supply for the region.
Bayraktar emphasized that the project strengthens Turkiye’s role as a key energy provider in the region. “With this connection, Nakhchivan’s energy needs will now be met through Turkiye,” he said, noting that the pipeline joins existing export routes to Bulgaria and Greece. The foundation of the pipeline was laid in late 2023, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attending the ceremony.
Discussing broader energy cooperation, Bayraktar highlighted Turkiye’s ongoing discussions with Russia, including the country’s ambition to establish a natural gas trade hub and secure more favorable supply conditions. He also confirmed that Russia remains interested in a proposed nuclear power plant in Sinop but stressed that the immediate priority is commissioning the first reactor at the Akkuyu nuclear plant.
On the issue of Turkmen gas, Bayraktar said supplies are currently reaching Turkiye via swaps through Iran, describing the arrangement as vital for diversifying sources and securing competitive pricing. In the long term, he pointed to the construction of a direct pipeline across the Caspian Sea as the most efficient method for transporting Turkmen gas to Turkiye and Europe.
Regarding the stalled Turkiye-Iraq oil pipeline, Bayraktar reiterated Turkiye’s readiness to resume operations, pending agreements with oil producers in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. The pipeline has been inactive since March 2023 due to an arbitration ruling, though Baghdad recently approved the restart of flows. However, international oil firms operating in Kurdistan have yet to resume shipments.
Bayraktar also underlined Turkiye’s strategic role in regional energy transit, citing the Development Road project with Iraq, which includes a pipeline reaching the Persian Gulf. He emphasized that Turkiye’s infrastructure investments and geographic position make it a crucial player in ensuring energy security for the region.