Azerbaijan-EU gas pipeline construction 'ahead of schedule'

Azerbaijan is currently building the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline, running across Turkey, that will connect the already existing South Caucasus Pipeline with the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, running up to the Italian border.

"The works will be completed in 2019. Our goal is to deliver extra 6 billion cubic meters [of gas] to Turkey and the following year, in 2020, to deliver 10 billion to Europe," Aliyev said.

The minister added that the pipeline would provide an alternative source of natural gas for Europe but underscored that it was hardly comparable with the volumes of Russian gas purchased by EU countries.

The European Union is looking to diversify its energy imports and diminish its reliance on Russian gas, which currently accounts for about one third of Europe's overall consumption.

Russia is planning to construct a new pipeline, dubbed the Turkish Stream, to deliver gas to Europe via Turkish territory.