Israel to join Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline?

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On May 16, Israeli MP Joseph Shagal reported to the press in Baku that while meeting Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev the Israeli side proposed construction of a new pipeline from Israel’s Ashkelon city which will join the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) main pipeline, a REGNUM correspondent informs.

“Baku oil can be transported to Ashkelon via this new pipeline and to India and Far East. It is profitable from financial point of view as well. Natig Aliyev said the project is interesting and he will have talks with the Israeli energy minister concerning this,” Shagal said.

In particular, according to Shagal, Ceyhan and Mediterranean port of Ashkelon are situated only 400 km apart. Oil can be transported to the city in tankers or via specially constructed under-water pipeline. From Ashkelon the oil can be pumped through already existing pipeline to port of Eilat at the Red Sea; and from there it can be transported to India and other Asian countries in tankers. As Shagal informed, Natig Aliyev had invited Israeli Infrastructure Minister to visit traditional Caspian oil exhibition-conference to be held early in June in Baku. The member of Knesset expressed his assurance the invitation would be accepted and realization of the above-mentioned idea would be discussed in detail.