Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan’s natural gas exports to Russia could double to 2 billion cubic meters this year, Russian ambassador in Baku Vladimir Dorokhin has said.

"Daily figures show that 2bn cubic meters will be transported by the end of the year," Dorokhin told the press Wednesday.

He said Russia is ready to buy as much gas as the neighboring country will sell.

"[Russian gas monopoly] Gazprom’s relevant proposal remains in force. If Azerbaijan begins selling bigger volumes of gas, we will buy it. But if Azerbaijan wants to sell its gas for Nabucco [pipeline] or to anyone else, it can go ahead, this is its own business. We have a full mutual understanding with Azerbaijan on these issues, there is no misunderstanding whatsoever. We respect Azerbaijan’s view, and this will continue to be the case."

Regarding bilateral trade turnover, Dorokhin said the figure hit a record high of $2.4 billion in 2009. In 2010, the volume of trade decreased to $1.8bn due to the world economic crisis, but in 2011 it is expected to surge to $2.7bn, according to projections, he said.