Azerbaijan, UK should define new priorities of cooperation

The prospects for cooperation in developing oil and gas fields in Azerbaijan were discussed at a meeting between the Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev and a delegation headed by UK's Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change Charles Hendry, head of Ministry's press service Azer Mensimli said.

In particular, the sides discussed a draft on long-term exploration and development of offshore block "Shafag-Asiman", in which BP is involved. According to Mensimli, the meeting also covered the construction of new oil and gas processing chemical complex in Azerbaijan. Hendry proposed to cooperate in this sector with UK companies.

The sides also discussed the prospects of cooperation in the field of alternative and renewable energy. Aliyev said that the Republic has already launched a project to produce this type of energy, with a capacity of 5.5 MW. According to the British minister, London today is developing a large-scale program, according to which, by 2020 the volume of production of alternative energy will make up 15 percent of the total energy balance in the country.

Today, Azerbaijan and European Union implement a joint program to improve energy efficiency.

Aliyev said that the cooperation between Azerbaijan and UK in oil and gas sector has been successfully continuing since 1994. He also proposed to define new priorities and directions of cooperation, expand existing relationships.


/Trend/