Azerbaijan considers effectiveness of gas supplies to Syria

Azerbaijani can supply gas to Syria on the favorable terms for Azerbaijan, Minister of Industry and Energy Natiq Aliyev said today.

"Work in this direction between Azerbaijan and Syria should be continued. All the conditions should be considered. It is necessary to determine the effectiveness of Azerbaijani gas supplies  to Syria, and if these conditions are favorable, Azerbaijan can supply its gas," Aliyev said.

According to him, working groups created within the memorandum on gas supplies signed earlier between Azerbaijan and Syria. Two export directions are considered: supply of fuel through Turkey and supply of Azerbaijani liquefied natural gas from terminals in Georgia.

Now Turkey and Syria are working towards the unification of pipeline systems.

Deliveries of Azerbaijani gas will begin after the completion of the connecting pipeline between Syria and Turkey, which is scheduled for 2011-2012. These countries will realize the construction of a 63-kilometer gas pipeline between Aleppo, Syria, and Kilis, Turkey, Syrian Petroleum and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Hasan Zeinab told Trend.

The second version of supply can be considered in case of failure to reach an agreement on transit of Azerbaijani gas through Turkey.

Today, a terminal is being constructed to process Azerbaijani gas on Georgia's Black Sea coast (SOCAR owns the Kulevi oil terminal). Talks are underway to transport the energy by ship to Romania or Bulgaria for onward dispatch to the domestic gas pipeline network in Europe. The project is considered in two directions - LNG and CNG. The matter deals with 7-20bln cubic meters of gas.


/Trend/