Talks on Russian gas import to Azerbaijan to start in November

A source in the Government told APA that the preliminary talks were held in August. Currently the volume of the importation for 2007 is being discussed between the Government and the SOCAR.

Russia's Gasexport representative in Azerbaijan, Akif Hasanov, told APA the meeting is expected to be held in the nearest months. "The price and the volume of the 2007 natural gas importation to Azerbaijan will be agreed on at the meeting of Gasprom and the Government of Azerbaijan. But, now it would be premature to say anything about the price."

Azerbaijan is importing 4.5bn cubic meters of gas from Russia by the current agreement for 2006. The price is US$110 per cu m.

Last year Azerbaijan imported 4.5bn c.b meters of Russian gas by US $60 per 1000 c.b meters.

Azerbaijan is currently importing 340-350mn cu m per day from Russia.