Aliyev: Azerbaijan boosting clout as energy producer
President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday underscored
Azerbaijan`s growing importance on the world stage as a producer of
hydrocarbon resources and transit country as world energy giants
gathered in Baku for an annual oil and gas show.
"Azerbaijan, along with being a center of oil and gas for the region and the entire world, is also a transit state, and this increases its significance and clout in the world," Aliyev told the opening of the 16th Caspian Oil and Gas, Oil Refining and Petrochemicals exhibition.
The president emphasized that the resource-rich South Caucasus republic`s proper energy policy has allowed to both meet the domestic demand and achieve its recognition as a reliable international partner. Moreover, Azerbaijan`s oil and gas potential represents indispensable importance for European energy security.
Aliyev said Azerbaijan`s oil and gas sector has successfully covered a long road of development since 1994, referring to the time that has passed since the signing of a landmark deal with the world`s oil majors to tap the country`s vast energy fields.
"Today`s real projects were once considered a legend. These projects have shaped a brand new situation in the region. With the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline [a major conduit pumping Azerbaijan`s crude to world markets], foreign companies` interest in Azerbaijan and the region further increased. Azerbaijan currently has seven oil and gas pipelines, and each of them, separately, represents great importance.
The BTC, as well as Baku-Supsa and Baku-Novorossiysk pipelines [western and northern routes] are exporting Azerbaijani oil in different directions. Also, three of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, Baku-Russia, Baku-Iran and Baku-Georgia gas pipelines are currently operational."
President Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan`s oil production in 2009 will amount to about 45 million tons, while that of gas - 25-27 billion cubic meters.
According to him, the country`s gas reserves are estimated at 2 trillion cubic meters, under the lowest estimates, while the highest estimates put the figure at as much as 5trln cu. m.
Aliyev said cooperation among energy producers, consumers and transit states should be sincere and fair. "This relationship must be transparent, at the level of market relations and healthy competition."
He noted that, if the issue of selling hydrocarbons is being considered, a fair price should be offered. If transit of energy resources is being discussed, these relations should dwell upon existing international practices.
The president stressed that Azerbaijan`s successes achieved in the energy sector represent an enormous accomplishment for a country that has no direct access to the rest of the world. All of the tasks laid out in the oil sector have been executed. Furthermore, the country intends to boost its achievements and expand its sphere of influence.
"The oil factor is not a goal, but a driving tool [to achieve it]," Aliyev said. "Azerbaijan has capitalized on this tool very successfully and efficiently. Incoming oil revenues have been directed to improvements in the social standing of the population and upgrade of infrastructure. In other words, the country`s non-oil sector is a logical continuation of the oil sector."
Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan`s economy is currently sustainable, saying that, at a time the world is grappling with a dire economic crisis, the country is actually posting growth. In the first quarter of 2009, economic development made up 4.3%, while the non-oil sector grew 13.7%.
US President Barack Obama wrote in a letter read out at the opening of the Baku exhibition that Azerbaijan is an important and reliable supplier of energy resources to energy-thirsty world markets. In the message, presented by the country`s Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy Richard Morningstar, Obama said Washington backs Azerbaijan`s efforts aiming to develop oil and gas fields and its participation in the projects allowing to boost the country`s economy.
"Azerbaijan is a very powerful and reliable partner and friend of the United States, and I would like for this cooperation to go on," Obama wrote.
The letter said further that, the country, by implementing projects spanning for thousands of kilometers through the territories of three countries - Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey - along with supplying the region and Europe with energy resources, has displayed commitment to high-level collaboration.
Despite the ongoing worldwide economic crunch, the number of participants at the Caspian oil and gas exhibition remains high. About 300 companies representing 22 countries are taking part in the four-day event. Companies accessing the Azerbaijani market for the first time occupy 20% of the total exposition area, while over 40% of the space is covered by such world majors as BP, Itochu, OMV, Gas International GMBH, Azerbaijan`s state energy firm SOCAR, StatoilHydro ASA, Total, and TPAO.
On Wednesday, the two-day 16th international oil and gas conference will begin as part of the event and attended by 450 delegates from 23 countries. Speakers will include ministers from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, and Kazakhstan, as well as representatives of the ministries and government agencies of the United States, Russia, Germany, and Britain.
The exhibition is supported by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Industry and Energy, SOCAR, as well as Iteca Caspian, the regional partner of British ITE Group PLC, and a number of other companies representing countries around the globe.
"Azerbaijan, along with being a center of oil and gas for the region and the entire world, is also a transit state, and this increases its significance and clout in the world," Aliyev told the opening of the 16th Caspian Oil and Gas, Oil Refining and Petrochemicals exhibition.
The president emphasized that the resource-rich South Caucasus republic`s proper energy policy has allowed to both meet the domestic demand and achieve its recognition as a reliable international partner. Moreover, Azerbaijan`s oil and gas potential represents indispensable importance for European energy security.
Aliyev said Azerbaijan`s oil and gas sector has successfully covered a long road of development since 1994, referring to the time that has passed since the signing of a landmark deal with the world`s oil majors to tap the country`s vast energy fields.
"Today`s real projects were once considered a legend. These projects have shaped a brand new situation in the region. With the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline [a major conduit pumping Azerbaijan`s crude to world markets], foreign companies` interest in Azerbaijan and the region further increased. Azerbaijan currently has seven oil and gas pipelines, and each of them, separately, represents great importance.
The BTC, as well as Baku-Supsa and Baku-Novorossiysk pipelines [western and northern routes] are exporting Azerbaijani oil in different directions. Also, three of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, Baku-Russia, Baku-Iran and Baku-Georgia gas pipelines are currently operational."
President Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan`s oil production in 2009 will amount to about 45 million tons, while that of gas - 25-27 billion cubic meters.
According to him, the country`s gas reserves are estimated at 2 trillion cubic meters, under the lowest estimates, while the highest estimates put the figure at as much as 5trln cu. m.
Aliyev said cooperation among energy producers, consumers and transit states should be sincere and fair. "This relationship must be transparent, at the level of market relations and healthy competition."
He noted that, if the issue of selling hydrocarbons is being considered, a fair price should be offered. If transit of energy resources is being discussed, these relations should dwell upon existing international practices.
The president stressed that Azerbaijan`s successes achieved in the energy sector represent an enormous accomplishment for a country that has no direct access to the rest of the world. All of the tasks laid out in the oil sector have been executed. Furthermore, the country intends to boost its achievements and expand its sphere of influence.
"The oil factor is not a goal, but a driving tool [to achieve it]," Aliyev said. "Azerbaijan has capitalized on this tool very successfully and efficiently. Incoming oil revenues have been directed to improvements in the social standing of the population and upgrade of infrastructure. In other words, the country`s non-oil sector is a logical continuation of the oil sector."
Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan`s economy is currently sustainable, saying that, at a time the world is grappling with a dire economic crisis, the country is actually posting growth. In the first quarter of 2009, economic development made up 4.3%, while the non-oil sector grew 13.7%.
US President Barack Obama wrote in a letter read out at the opening of the Baku exhibition that Azerbaijan is an important and reliable supplier of energy resources to energy-thirsty world markets. In the message, presented by the country`s Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy Richard Morningstar, Obama said Washington backs Azerbaijan`s efforts aiming to develop oil and gas fields and its participation in the projects allowing to boost the country`s economy.
"Azerbaijan is a very powerful and reliable partner and friend of the United States, and I would like for this cooperation to go on," Obama wrote.
The letter said further that, the country, by implementing projects spanning for thousands of kilometers through the territories of three countries - Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey - along with supplying the region and Europe with energy resources, has displayed commitment to high-level collaboration.
Despite the ongoing worldwide economic crunch, the number of participants at the Caspian oil and gas exhibition remains high. About 300 companies representing 22 countries are taking part in the four-day event. Companies accessing the Azerbaijani market for the first time occupy 20% of the total exposition area, while over 40% of the space is covered by such world majors as BP, Itochu, OMV, Gas International GMBH, Azerbaijan`s state energy firm SOCAR, StatoilHydro ASA, Total, and TPAO.
On Wednesday, the two-day 16th international oil and gas conference will begin as part of the event and attended by 450 delegates from 23 countries. Speakers will include ministers from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, and Kazakhstan, as well as representatives of the ministries and government agencies of the United States, Russia, Germany, and Britain.
The exhibition is supported by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Industry and Energy, SOCAR, as well as Iteca Caspian, the regional partner of British ITE Group PLC, and a number of other companies representing countries around the globe.
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