BP says Shah Deniz project is largest FDI made in Azerbaijan
By Gulgiz Dadashova
The Southern Gas Corridor is forging new links between Azerbaijan and the countries that will benefit from the energy supplies stretching into the heart of Europe.
BP President Robert Dudley made the remark at the opening of the
21st International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition in Baku on June
3.
He stressed that a major step was taken to approve the stage two
development of the Shah Deniz field in late 2013.
"This is one of the most complex challenges ever undertaken in the
global oil and gas industry. It represents the largest foreign
direct investments made in Azerbaijan," Dudley said. "As the
construction activity ramp up it will create over 10,000 jobs in
Azerbaijan and tens of thousands jobs in the countries along the
Southern Gas Corridor."
Dudley added that the Contract of the Century has put Azerbaijan
back on track, as it once again has become one of the world's
leading oil and gas producing nations.
"We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the
Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) contract," he said. "What has been
achieved from 1994 - is extraordinary. It has been good for
Azerbaijan, the companies, such as BP, and other partners, as well
as thousands for Azerbaijanis who worked on this project."
He noted that this has made a major contribution to the new
commercial links that country is building with the rest of the
world.
The 21st Caspian International Oil & Gas Exhibition, the largest
event in the energy sector of the Caspian region, is taking place
between June 3 and June 6 at the Baku Expo Center.
Some 402 companies from 29 countries present their products and
services at the exhibition. Famous companies from around the world
attend the exhibition. These companies include those which were
involved in the Contract of the Century - State Oil Company of
Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), BP, Statoil, OMV, TPAO, Lukoil and
many others.
Local companies comprise 35 percent of the total number of
exhibitors, while the total growth of the exhibition has reached 10
percent.
The four day exhibition will also feature a substantial business
program. Over 500 delegates from more than 30 countries will take
part in the annual conference.
More than 50 representatives of state bodies, leading experts in
the oil and gas industry and chief executives of major oil and gas
companies from different countries will speak at the
conference.