By implementing joint projects in the region, Turkey and Azerbaijan have created an energy corridor connecting the East and West, TRT Haber TV channel quoted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying on Sept.29.

He named the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline as examples.

Erdogan added that the TANAP project, which is currently under implementation, also plays an important role in ensuring the world’s energy security.

The TANAP project envisages transporting gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field through Turkey up to the country's border with Europe.

The pipeline's initial capacity is expected to be 16 billion cubic meters per year. About six billion cubic meters of gas will be delivered to Turkey and the rest to Europe. The pipeline's capacity can be further expanded to 31 billion cubic meters of gas per year. It is planned to commission the TANAP pipeline in 2018. The project's cost is estimated at $10 billion to $11 billion.