SOCAR, Gazprom intend to cooperate in gas supply
By Amina Nazarli
Two energy giants Azerbaijani state company SOCAR and Russian Gazprom are discussing the general directions of cooperation, which can also include natural gas supplies.
Vice-President of SOCAR Vitaliy Beglyarbekov told reporters that this can be both gas supplies to and from Azerbaijan.
“We have already conducted such negotiations before and are
always conducted, because as a country that makes a serious
contribution to the development of gas relations in the region, we
periodically consult with each other and support a serious and
forward-looking dialogue,” he said.
Beglyarbekov found it difficult to name the volumes of gas and
possible terms, noting that these issues are not yet a subject of
discussion.
"The parties continue to work on the possible development of concepts of cooperation in the field of oil and gas supplies," the SOCAR representative added.
St. Petersburg hosted a working meeting between Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom Alexey Miller and President of SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev on July 2, where the sides discussed cooperation issues, in particular, the supply of natural gas to Azerbaijan.
SOCAR and Gazprom were previously reported to have discussed an increase of Russian natural gas supplies to Azerbaijan for about 3-5 billion cubic meters per year.
Gazprom is a global energy company focused on geological exploration, transportation, storage, processing and sales of gas, gas condensate and oil, sales of gas as a vehicle fuel, as well as generation and marketing of heat and electric power.
SOCAR is Azerbaijan's largest state-owned petroleum company engaged in oil, natural gas and gas condensate exploration, production, processing, transportation and sales.
SOCAR includes such production associations as Azneft (the enterprises producing oil and gas onshore and offshore), Azerikimya (the chemical enterprises) and Azerigas (distributor of gas produced in the country), as well as oil and gas processing plants, service companies, and the facilities involved in geophysical and drilling operations.
Gazprom Export and Azerbaijan Methanol Company (AzMeCo) signed a mid-term Sales and Purchase Agreement on September 11, 2015 for up to 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually.
AzMeCo for the debts was handed over to Aqrarkredit CJSC non-bank credit institution in accordance with a decision of Azerbaijan’s Cabinet of Ministers. (Aqrarkredit CJSC manages the distressed assets of the International Bank of Azerbaijan).
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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