Baku cautious in backing NABUCCO
The Azerbaijani government is refraining from the
unequivocal backing of the NABUCCO pipeline project to export
Caspian gas to Europe.
President Ilham Aliyev has said the implementation of the West-backed project depends not only on Azerbaijan, therefore, it is difficult to say for certain, at this point, whether or not it will materialize.
"It is hard to say, and I would like to note that when the project was coming to the agenda, sources other than Azerbaijan were being considered as potential suppliers. But today, when talking about NABUCCO, Azerbaijan`s gas reserves are implied.
"However, NABUCCO is not our project alone. Its realization largely depends on the activity of NABUCCO companies, transit issues and Central Asian sources joining the project. This is a broader project. As for Azerbaijan, we are ready to act as a transit state and, if necessary, as a potential supplier," Aliyev said.
The project, worth 8 billion euros, is designed to deliver Azerbaijani and Turkmen gas to European markets through a 3,300-kilometer pipeline traveling through Azerbaijan and Turkey to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria. Six shareholders - German RWЕ, Turkish Botas company, Romanian Transgas, Bulgarian Bulgargas, Austrian OMV, and Hungarian MOL - hold equal stakes in the project consortium. So far, only Azerbaijan has agreed to transport its gas via NABUCCO.
With regard to Russian giant Gazprom`s proposals on buying gas produced from Azerbaijan`s vast Caspian field Shahdaniz at a high price, President Aliyev said Baku was considering it.
Gazprom has offered to buy any volumes of Azerbaijani gas at prices reaching European levels.
Aliyev noted that various proposals were being made to Azerbaijan regarding purchases of its gas and the government was weighing each equally, as this is "a matter of trade."
"We are implementing our energy projects strictly from the standpoint of commerce, diversification, security and long-term partnership. For this very reason, all proposals will be reviewed," Aliyev said.
The president noted that while reaching an agreement, the export price should definitely comply with market prices. He emphasized that Azerbaijan today is fully a market economy, and if the price offered is appropriate, any proposal can be considered.
"At the same time, today and in the future - and I mean, foreseeable future - Azerbaijan will be able to produce enough gas to export it in different directions."
The resource-rich South Caucasus republic is already exporting gas to its neighbors - Georgia and Turkey. Through the Turkish territory, Azerbaijani gas is being delivered to European markets and, in particular, to Greece.
President Ilham Aliyev has said the implementation of the West-backed project depends not only on Azerbaijan, therefore, it is difficult to say for certain, at this point, whether or not it will materialize.
"It is hard to say, and I would like to note that when the project was coming to the agenda, sources other than Azerbaijan were being considered as potential suppliers. But today, when talking about NABUCCO, Azerbaijan`s gas reserves are implied.
"However, NABUCCO is not our project alone. Its realization largely depends on the activity of NABUCCO companies, transit issues and Central Asian sources joining the project. This is a broader project. As for Azerbaijan, we are ready to act as a transit state and, if necessary, as a potential supplier," Aliyev said.
The project, worth 8 billion euros, is designed to deliver Azerbaijani and Turkmen gas to European markets through a 3,300-kilometer pipeline traveling through Azerbaijan and Turkey to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria. Six shareholders - German RWЕ, Turkish Botas company, Romanian Transgas, Bulgarian Bulgargas, Austrian OMV, and Hungarian MOL - hold equal stakes in the project consortium. So far, only Azerbaijan has agreed to transport its gas via NABUCCO.
With regard to Russian giant Gazprom`s proposals on buying gas produced from Azerbaijan`s vast Caspian field Shahdaniz at a high price, President Aliyev said Baku was considering it.
Gazprom has offered to buy any volumes of Azerbaijani gas at prices reaching European levels.
Aliyev noted that various proposals were being made to Azerbaijan regarding purchases of its gas and the government was weighing each equally, as this is "a matter of trade."
"We are implementing our energy projects strictly from the standpoint of commerce, diversification, security and long-term partnership. For this very reason, all proposals will be reviewed," Aliyev said.
The president noted that while reaching an agreement, the export price should definitely comply with market prices. He emphasized that Azerbaijan today is fully a market economy, and if the price offered is appropriate, any proposal can be considered.
"At the same time, today and in the future - and I mean, foreseeable future - Azerbaijan will be able to produce enough gas to export it in different directions."
The resource-rich South Caucasus republic is already exporting gas to its neighbors - Georgia and Turkey. Through the Turkish territory, Azerbaijani gas is being delivered to European markets and, in particular, to Greece.
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