Sabit Bagirov: "Azerbaijan will turn into oil consumer after 2020"

The due announcement was made by expert Sabit Bagirov, during a round table on energy security in the Caucasus.

"Azerbaijan is the only producer of energy sources in the Caucasus region. The remaining countries, including Armenia, Georgia and Turkey, are consumers and transit countries", he continued.

As for the Caspian region, according to Bagirov, Azerbaijan is not the richest one for its reserves of energy sources. In particular, Azerbaijan accounts for 15% of explored oil reserves, Turkmenistan for 1%, Uzbekistan for 1% and Kazakhstan for the remaining share.

Moreover, Azerbaijan is the poorest among the Caspian states for its explored gas reserves with a 15% share, while Kazakhstan accounts for 33%, Turkmenistan for 32% and Uzbekistan for 20%.

"These reserves will do for decades for the Caspian region. In particular, Azerbaijan will turn into an oil consumer after 2020. Gas will do for a long term.

In this sense we outstrip our neighbors in the Caucasus region, though lagging behind the Central Asian states. Thus, Armenia and Georgia are obliged to meet their needs in fuel and gas through import", the expert noted.

At the same time, according to Bagirov, to ensure its energy security Azerbaijan already has to undertake definite steps, in particular, build small hydroelectric power stations and develop alternative energy sources-wind stations and save energy sources.

/Day.Az/