TAP, Nabucco West, and South Stream: The Pipeline Dilemma in the Caspian Sea Basin and Its Consequences for the Development of the Southern Gas Corridor

Abstract

This article examines the benefits and obstacles in building the various non-Russian pipelines connecting the Caspian Sea with Europe. Overall, an opening of a corridor from Azerbaijan to Europe is closer than it was a year ago and the construction of such a pipeline would provide many benefits to Europe. However, the success of the EU’s energy strategy in the Caspian region will depend on the EU's ability to deal with Russia and China, the two superpowers there.