Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR is studying all possible options for the construction of SOCAR-branded small automatic gas stations in Baku.

The company is keen on expanding operations in retail oil product markets abroad.

The construction of seven or eight small automatic gas stations in the capital Baku is under consideration, a source at SOCAR told Trend Agency on March 4.

There is no concrete project yet. Work on searching the most optimum construction practices for small automatic gas stations is being conducted, the source noted.

"At this stage, work on determining the location of new stations is underway, and the options for their creation and the purchase of necessary equipment for the stations are being studied. We will carry out the construction of small automatic gas stations for the first time, so we are studying all the options. Construction will begin in 2014," the source stressed.

Negotiations with the Italian manufacturers of equipment are being held, the source added.

Construction of small automatic gas stations has a number of advantages.They are constructed on smaller parcels of land which reduces the cost of construction and installation compared to traditional gas stations. They also release fuel without an operator, and the process of refueling and payment are implemented automatically, ultimately leading to an increase in the number motor vehicles that can be filled, the source said.

Azerbaijan's energy giant SOCAR is involved in exploring oil and gas fields, producing, processing, and transporting oil, gas, and gas condensate, marketing petroleum and petrochemical products in domestic and international markets, and supplying natural gas to Azerbaijan's industry and public.

The company owns gas stations in Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Georgia and Ukraine. It has representative offices in Georgia, Turkey, Romania, Austria, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Great Britain, Iran, Germany, and Ukraine, and trading companies in Switzerland, Singapore, Vietnam, Nigeria, and other countries.

SOCAR currently has 16 gas stations in Azerbaijan; two of them are located in the north of the country, and the remaining ones are in Baku.