SOCAR interested in full-scale cooperation with Turkmenistan
By Aynur Karimova
Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR is interested in establishing a full-scale cooperation with Turkmenistan - a reliable and promising partner, which has huge energy resources and economic potential.
This was stated at a meeting held between Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and President of Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev in Turkmenistan's national tourism zone Avaza on September 11.
The sides discussed cooperation issues between the two countries in the fuel-energy, transport and communication sectors.
The Turkmen government reported that the meeting focused on the prospects for the implementation of mutually beneficial joint projects in the abovementioned areas, which are meant to facilitate a sustainable economic development of the entire Caspian region.
It was noted that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, the two neighboring countries, will consolidate their efforts in searching solutions to pressing problems of modernity, paying special attention to the strengthening of peace and the global system of universal security, including the energy security.
Berdymukhamedov and Abdullayev also expressed their confidence in further deepening of the multifaceted interstate dialogue and consolidation of ancestral ties of friendship and brotherhood between the Turkmen and Azerbaijani peoples.
Energy-rich Turkmenistan – which ranks fourth in the world in terms of the volume of gas reserves after Russia, Iran and Qatar, and produces about 70-80 billion cubic meters of gas a year – is keen on increasing and diversifying the supply of its huge volume natural gas to Europe.
Azerbaijan, a producer and independent exporter of natural gas to Europe, is interested in providing a transit for Turkmenistan's blue fuel, which could bring additional revenues to the country.
Recently, as Azerbaijan together with its European allies commenced the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline, which would then connect to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline and carry Azerbaijan's natural gas to Europe, Turkmenistan has expressed interest in the realization of the Trans-Caspian Pipeline.
The 300-kilometer Trans-Caspian Pipeline is widely regarded as the optimal option to deliver 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen blue fuel under the Caspian through Azerbaijan to European consumers.
Earlier SOCAR expressed readiness to offer Turkmenistan an infrastructure, a diversified system of oil and gas pipelines and other opportunities for the realization of projects in the oil and gas sector.
The construction of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline will greatly expand the diversification of the Turkmen natural gas supply routes, as well as create an additional guarantee for the reliable and stable export of Turkmen energy resources to international markets.
The project is in the strategic interest of Europe at a time when the EU is trying to decrease its dependence on Russian gas.
--
Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz