PM Đukanović: TANAP-TAP construction opens up new energy perspective for Montenegro, Western Balkan, EU

Baku, Azerbaijan (20 September 2014) -- Prime Minister of Montenegro Milo Đukanović delivered a speech at today's ceremony in Baku marking the beginning of the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor. The ceremony, opened by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, was also attended by representatives of governments of Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Albania and Italy.

Start of construction of the Southern Gas Corridor (TANAP-TAP) opens up a whole new energy perspective for Montenegro, its neighbors and the countries of the European Union, PM Đukanović stated in his address.

“Gasification makes a new era of development possible for Montenegro. This will mean better conditions for new investment and job creation, and we hope it will strengthen the exploration of oil and gas in the Montenegrin coast,” he explained.

The TANAP-TAP and its connection with the arm of the Ionic Adriatic Pipeline should supply the Western Balkan countries, including Montenegro, with natural gas and connect them with a new secure energy sources.

“The issue of energy transcends national and state boundaries. Cooperation in this area is becoming increasingly important for economic security and overall development of a country,” Prime Minister Đukanović underlined.

He added that Montenegro participates in the TANAP-TAP construction from the very beginning, that is, from the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Tirana, and the last year's conference in Baku, which came to a decision to make the investment, up to the start of work on the future pipeline, on its connection with the Ionian - Adriatic Pipeline would be connected in Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.

Prime Minister Đukanović noted that Montenegro has complied with the energy strategy of the European Union, whose top priorities are: smooth energy supply, development of competitive energy market and sustainable energy development.

Diversification of energy sources, he added, is one of the prerequisites for achieving these goals, while regional approach seems more promising sources of funding these major projects, including EU grants, he stressed.

“Joint efforts being invested in constructing the TANAP-TAP and the Ionic Adriatic Pipeline are an example of successful international cooperation in meeting objectives of the European energy strategy. I am convinced that in this way we build a better common future,” Montenegro’s Prime Minister concluded.