Baku, August 6, AZERTAC
During the first half of the year, the Sangachal terminal exported around 97 million barrels of oil and condensate, which was sent mainly through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, bp Azerbaijan has told AZERTAC.
Gas is exported via the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), including the SCP expansion system and via Azerbaijan’s pipelines connecting the terminal’s gas processing facilities with Azerigas’s national grid system.
On average, around 74 million standard cubic metres (about 2,611 million standard cubic feet) of Shah Deniz gas was sent from the terminal daily during the first half of 2026.
The daily capacity of the terminal’s processing systems is currently 1.2 million barrels of crude oil and condensate, and about 81 million standard cubic metres of Shah Deniz gas, while overall processing and export capacity for gas, including ACG associated gas is around 100 million standard cubic metres per day.
During the first half of 2026, the Sangachal Terminal Electrification (STEL) project continued to make strong progress, moving from the main construction phase towards commissioning and start-up readiness.
Major equipment required for the first stage of the project has now been delivered to site, with installation activities advancing well. Detailed commissioning planning and execution are underway to support first energization activities in the third quarter of 2026. This follows the successful completion of key assurance reviews confirming the project’s readiness to progress through the commissioning and start-up phases.
Construction and commissioning of the new AzerEnerji facilities outside the terminal are largely complete. Integrated commissioning of the grid infrastructure and Sangachal terminal facilities is planned to progress through a phased start-up programme.
Project execution activities are expected to be completed in two stages – Stage 1 in mid-2027, and Stage 2 by the end of 2028.
The $230 million STEL project will enable the terminal to connect to Azerbaijan’s national grid operated by AzerEnerji, via new facilities being built both within and outside the terminal, including a new 220/110 kV electricity substation.
The STEL project is closely linked to the Shafag project, a 240MW AC solar plant being built in Jabrayil, via a new commercial structure called ‘virtual power transfer arrangement’. Based on this arrangement, the Shafag plant would produce power and deliver it to AzerEnerji in the Jabrayil district, while AzerEnerji would deliver an equivalent quantity of electricity to the Sangachal terminal near Baku. Together, the Shafag and STEL projects are expected to support the reduction of operational emissions by around 50% over the future life of the Sangachal terminal, based on the current outlook and plans.
The terminal currently uses seven gas turbines to generate the power it needs. Following the electrification, the turbines will be removed in phases, freeing up the fuel gas for export.