Azerbaijan begins offshore construction on project to boost gas supplies to Europe via route bypassing Russia

Azerbaijan has commenced offshore construction for a project aimed at augmenting gas supplies to Europe, circumventing Russian territory according to AP-Economics, as reported by Ukrinform. The breakthrough follows BP's announcement, which detailed the installation of four foundational piles for the platform's jacket, transported and positioned by the Khankendi subsea construction vessel.

These piles, each measuring roughly 70 meters in length and weighing 292 tonnes, were secured using a 188-tonne specialized subsea support frame to ensure stability and vertical alignment. BP finalized its investment decision on the Shah Deniz Compression project on June 3, 2025, envisioning the project to unlock an extra 50 billion cubic meters of gas during its operational lifespan.

The project's completion is anticipated in 2029, with the platform jacket installation slated for the first half of that year. Situated in the Caspian Sea, Shah Deniz is a colossal offshore gas-condensate field, crucial to Europe's energy security through its involvement in the Southern Gas Corridor, a route that bypasses Russian gas supplies, traversing Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, and Albania before reaching Italy.

Azerbaijan presently exports natural gas to 16 countries, with ambitions to further bolster energy security and diversify supply routes to Europe and beyond, including the promise of supplying "green" electricity to European markets.