President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, on September 25, launched a new natural gas pipeline connecting Turkey’s eastern province of Iğdır to Sederek in western Azerbaijan.
The new 85-kilometer gas pipeline will stretch from Turkey’s eastern province of Iğdır to Sederek in western Azerbaijan. It’s reported to have an annual capacity of 500 million cubic meters and a daily capacity of 1.5 million cubic meters, as per Anadolu Agency.
The project will be implemented through a collaboration between Turkey’s crude oil and natural gas pipeline trading company, BOTAŞ, and Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR.
Nakhchivan Gas Pipeline
A Memorandum of Understanding for the Igdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline construction was signed between Azerbaijan and Turkey in Ankara on December 15, 2020. The pipeline spans 97.5 km from Igdir to the Sadarak district, with the Azerbaijani section covering 17.5 km and the Turkish section 80 km. It has a daily transmission capacity of 2 million cubic meters of gas, equivalent to 730 million cubic meters annually, fully satisfying Nakhchivan’s gas needs.
This pipeline boasts an impressive transmission capacity, capable of delivering 2 million cubic meters of gas daily and an annual total of 730 million cubic meters, enough to fulfill the gas requirements of the Nakhchivan region. Furthermore, the pipeline’s future throughput capacity can potentially double.
The Türkiye-Nakhchivan natural gas pipeline represents a testament to the ever-expanding energy collaboration between Ankara and Baku.
Nakhchivan Military Repair and Production Complex inaugurated
The two leaders also inaugurated the Nakhchivan Military Repair and Production Complex, a significant facility designed for repairing and upgrading a wide range of military equipment, including tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, air defense systems, firearms, and more. It also handles internal combustion engine testing and part replacement.
The complex comprises one central facility, eight repair units, and ten sites, equipped with over 300 types of equipment for military hardware repair. Additionally, the complex includes administrative, dormitory, and security buildings.
Moreover, the “Nakhchivan Central Training and Teaching Area” within the complex offers various tactical and sports fields, along with sections for shooting, artillery, engineering, reconnaissance, communication, chemical, and guard training. It also includes a well-equipped sports campus. This inauguration represents a significant development in Azerbaijan’s military infrastructure, enhancing its capabilities for equipment maintenance, training, and readiness.
Nakhchivan
Nakhchivan, a strategically significant region, holds historical importance as the sole land connection between Azerbaijan and Turkey. It has served as a crossroads between various empires over the centuries.
Nakhchivan’s autonomy is maintained by Turkey, ensuring its integral role in Azerbaijan, and it has notable figures, like President Heydar Aliyev and Abulfaz Elchibey, among its native sons.
In addition to the recently launched Igdir-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline, the future Zangezur Corridor will further enhance Nakhchivan’s regional importance by connecting it to western Azerbaijan and the broader Central Corridor, boosting regional connectivity.