Due to the geopolitical complexity, the difficulty of exporting Iranian gas from the Black Sea

According to Energy Press; In recent days, the discussion of the Zangzor Corridor and the attempt to cut off the borders of Iran and Armenia have been in the center of attention. One of Iran’s correct reasons for this issue is Iran’s lack of access to the Black Sea through Armenia, which has strategic implications for Iran. It should be noted that the Black Sea is a potential route for the transfer of Iranian gas to Europe, and a series of events and developments have created significant changes in the Black Sea region from the point of view of energy security, which requires attention.
The role of the Black Sea, along with its littoral countries – Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia – is intense and significant in energy-related interactions between states in the region, increasing its importance from the point of view of energy security. The study of Black Sea energy policy reveals both the divergent interests of the region’s main actors and broader security concerns that affect the interests and preferences of stakeholders beyond the region.
Southern Gas Corridor
The purpose of constructing the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) is to transfer Azerbaijani gas to European markets through a 3500 km long pipeline system. It is expected to be completed after the completion of construction activities on its last section, the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). In the total initial capacity, SGC will be able to transfer an annual volume of 16 billion cubic meters of natural gas from the Caspian Sea through Turkey to the European Union markets. Since Turkey signed a contract to buy 6 billion cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan, the remaining 10 billion cubic meters will be transferred to Europe every year.
Although the pipeline’s initial capacity is not as impressive as some others — especially projects initiated by Gazprom — it is still a milestone in supply diversification efforts aimed at limiting Russia’s dominant role in gas exports to Europe. Indeed, the SGC will be the first pipeline system to enable the flow of gas to Europe in the post-Soviet era via a transport route independent of Russian control.
In addition, Turkey’s import structure has changed significantly in recent years, and Azerbaijan has become one of the country’s largest gas suppliers. Between May 2018 and May 2020, Azerbaijan’s share of Turkish gas imports increased from 20% to 33%, meaning that SGC is a key vital way to meet the gas needs of Georgia and Turkey. Although the SGC does not pass through Bulgaria, the construction of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) pipeline is underway. The 180 km long IGB pipeline will connect SGC to the Bulgarian gas grid, an important move towards diversifying Bulgaria’s imports. The country will then be able to receive gas from the Caspian Sea through new infrastructure. Bulgaria has also agreed to acquire a 20 percent stake in a new Greek LNG project in the north of the country, increasing Bulgaria’s options to move away from Russian gas. The gas that will reach Greece through the future LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis will also be transported to Bulgaria through the aforementioned IGB pipeline.