Statoil eyes to extend cooperation with Azerbaijan
By Aygul Salmanova
Norwegian Statoil company, the world’s largest offshore operator, intends to continue and expand partnership with Azerbaijan in the future.
The remark was made by Fawad Quraishi, Norway’s Statoil Country
Manager in Azerbaijan, as he met with newly appointed country’s
Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov on December 13.
Quraishi congratulated Shahbazov on his appointment to the post of
Azerbaijani energy minister.
“I am sure that the ties between Azerbaijan and Statoil will strengthen,” Quraishi said. “Azerbaijan is one of the most important countries for Statoil. The company's participation in the development of the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli block of oil fields and in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, the involvement in exploration work at Karabakh, Ashrafi and Dan Ulduzu fields testifies to the successful cooperation, which we are very pleased with.”
In his turn, Shahbazov appreciated Statoil's activity on the use of advanced experience, new technologies and attraction of investments in the Azerbaijani oil and gas sector since the first years of the country’s independence.
“This cooperation is beneficial for both sides,” Shahbazov said. “The projects related to the exploration and development of new fields will ensure a long-term partnership between Statoil and Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani Energy Ministry will continue to render necessary support for the company's activity.”
Since the year 1992, Statoil has been a partner in Azerbaijan’s industrial and economic transition. Together with the national oil company SOCAR and other international companies, the company intends to build Azerbaijan’s burgeoning oil and gas market to realize its full potential.
Today Statoil has an interest in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) oil field, as well as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline - which runs from the Azerbaijan capital of Baku to the south Turkish port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.
In partnership with the Norwegian government, the company has supported the Azerbaijani government to establish an oil fund based on the Norwegian model, as well as driven technical development of Azerbaijanis through collaborations with SOCAR and students.
Over the last two decades, Statoil Company has invested more than $6.5 billion in Azerbaijan, making it the second largest investor in the country.
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