Baku, Prague seek to expand energy cooperation
By Amina Nazarli
A Czech delegation led by Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mladek held talks with Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR in Baku on prospects of deepening the energy cooperation.
The delegation was received by SOCAR Vice President Yashar Latifov, who informed the guests about the oil and gas projects implemented in Azerbaijan and the company achievements.
Speaking about Azerbaijan’s contribution to the European energy
security, Latifov said the development of the Shah Deniz gas field
made Azerbaijan, one of the world’s oldest oil producers and
exporters, the natural gas producer too.
He mentioned that the Southern Gas Corridor, including TANAP and
TAP projects, designed for the transportation of natural gas
resources from Azerbaijan to Europe has gained international
support.
Mladek , in turn, stressed that Azerbaijan’s oil supplies is very important for the energy supply of his country, and they were closely watching the construction of gas pipelines to Europe as this issue is also important for them.
The parties further underlined the contribution of the Azerbaijan-Czech Business Forum held in Baku on January 17 to the development of economic relations between the countries, and discussed cooperation prospects.
Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation, stated Mladek at the meeting with Azerbaijan’s Deputy Energy Ministers Natiq Abbasov and Gulmammad Javadov.
They discussed energy relations and necessary measures to expand the cooperation between the two countries.
Mládek informed that the Czech Republic is ready for
participation in the construction and reconstruction of oil, gas
and electricity facilities in Azerbaijan, supplies of oil to
refinery ‘Kralupy’, and cooperation in the field of alternative
energy.
Energy has traditionally taken a leading role in economic
cooperation between Baku and Prague. Azerbaijan is the second
largest exporter of oil to the Czech Republic, which meets one
third of energy needs of this country.
By providing a significant contribution to the diversification of
energy resources of this country, Azerbaijan emerged as an
important strategic partner of the European country.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic
amounted to $312.02 million in January-November 2016, and $214.17
million of which accounted for the export of Azerbaijani goods to
the Czech Republic, according to the Azerbaijani State Customs
Committee.
Czech Republic mainly imports Azerbaijani oil, while industrial
equipment and consumer goods are exported to Azerbaijan. The
country is a reliable partner for Azerbaijan in several fields.
The Czech Republic ranks 12th in the list of main importers of Azerbaijani goods. The share of the Czech Republic in the total export from Azerbaijan totaled 2.58 percent in January-November 2016.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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