SOCAR, Botas launch talks on gas supplies to Turkey
Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR and Turkish
state-controlled natural gas monopoly Botas launched talks in Baku
on Tuesday on altering the price of gas that Azerbaijan sells to
the neighboring country.
SOCAR spokesman Nizamaddin Guliyev has told Radio Liberty that discussions concerned renewing the price.
"We are not talking about raising or lowering the price. Under the agreement, [existing] prices are outdated and have to be set anew. But various factors are involved here, for instance, market prices of gas, etc," Guliyev said.
Guliyev said that ongoing talks are sealed off to the public due to their being a commercial secret. He noted that transporting gas to be extracted from Azerbaijan`s Caspian field Shahdaniz during Phase 2 of the project to Turkey is under discussion as well.
The contract on gas deliveries to Turkey expired in April 2008. Under that deal, Turkey was buying Azerbaijani gas for $120 per 1,000 cubic meters, although other exporters are selling it for at least $300, and even up to $500.
Botas Chairman Huseyin Saltuk Duzyol has told the press that the proposals of both Azerbaijan and Turkey will be discussed during the talks.
"I hope this issue will find its solution in a very short time. In addition to that, exporting Azerbaijani gas to Western markets will be in focus. I am looking forward to the negotiations` resulting in an agreement that will serve the interests of both countries," Duzyol said.
Turkey is seeking to receive 8 billion cubic meters of gas a year during the second stage of the Shahdaniz development to meet domestic demand, Reuters quoted sources at the Turkish energy ministry as saying.
SOCAR spokesman Nizamaddin Guliyev has told Radio Liberty that discussions concerned renewing the price.
"We are not talking about raising or lowering the price. Under the agreement, [existing] prices are outdated and have to be set anew. But various factors are involved here, for instance, market prices of gas, etc," Guliyev said.
Guliyev said that ongoing talks are sealed off to the public due to their being a commercial secret. He noted that transporting gas to be extracted from Azerbaijan`s Caspian field Shahdaniz during Phase 2 of the project to Turkey is under discussion as well.
The contract on gas deliveries to Turkey expired in April 2008. Under that deal, Turkey was buying Azerbaijani gas for $120 per 1,000 cubic meters, although other exporters are selling it for at least $300, and even up to $500.
Botas Chairman Huseyin Saltuk Duzyol has told the press that the proposals of both Azerbaijan and Turkey will be discussed during the talks.
"I hope this issue will find its solution in a very short time. In addition to that, exporting Azerbaijani gas to Western markets will be in focus. I am looking forward to the negotiations` resulting in an agreement that will serve the interests of both countries," Duzyol said.
Turkey is seeking to receive 8 billion cubic meters of gas a year during the second stage of the Shahdaniz development to meet domestic demand, Reuters quoted sources at the Turkish energy ministry as saying.
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