President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, left, meets with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliev, right, in Baku, July 2008.
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
Russia Confirmed Readiness to Buy Azeri Gas
Russia confirms readiness to buy Azeri gas from Shah Deniz offshore field of the Caspian Sea, the RF Trade Representative in Azerbaijan Yuri Shchedrin told media in Baku August 14, ITAR-TASS reported.
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller was the first to offer to buy the gas of Azerbaijan at the market prices. Miller made the respective proposal in Baku in June. RF President Dmitry Medvedev confirmed Russia’s readiness to buy the gas during his official visit to Azerbaijan in July.
“In terms of concept, the issues related to Russia’s acquisition of Azerbaijan’s gas have been determined in principle at the level of state leaders. But the actual negotiations are to be held at the level of business, in this case between Gazprom, and Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company and, perhaps, with Azerigas. No one intends to interfere in the process,” Shchedrin said, adding that “the parties have agreed on the so-called swap supplies of gas.”
Azerbaijan had been annually buying up to 4.5 billion cu meters of Russia’s gas till January 1, 2007 but rejected the import in the wake of the surge in prices. This year, however, Azerbaijan launched industrial gas production at Shah Deniz field, which reserves are estimated at 1.2 trillion cu meters. The gas from it suffices to meet domestic requirements of Azerbaijan and launch gas export to Georgia, Turkey and Greece.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
