Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 11 / Trend /
Supplies of Azerbaijani gas to Israel can be realized only if there are the pipeline or the construction of special terminals for LNG, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said today in an interview with several Azerbaijani media outlets after his first official visit to Baku.
"Azerbaijan is one of the main suppliers of oil to Israel. As to gas, unfortunately, it is still too early to talk about gas supplies since we have no gas pipeline and liquefied gas is not produced in sufficient volumes. Either the pipeline or a special gas liquefaction plant will be built," Lieberman said.
Today, Azerbaijani gas from Shah Deniz field is delivered to Turkey via the South Caucasus gas pipeline (Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum). It can be brought to Israel via the Mediterranean Sea.
The minister said that cooperation with Azerbaijan in oil supplies is quite successful." We believe that Azerbaijan is a very successful and serious partner ", Lieberman said.
During the visit the sides also discussed the projects in the field of alternative and renewable sources of energy.
"We discussed several projects. These project cover everything about solar energy, which is associated with the management of water resources, waste water purification and desalination plants", the Minister said.
"Fundamental approval was obtained at the highest level. The talks with Israeli partners will be held by the arrival of a large business delegation from Azerbaijan. I think that within 3-4 months, we will determine the time frame, the objects and scope of this cooperation", Lieberman said.
Shah Deniz reserves are estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters.
Under the first phase, it is planned to get 8.6-9 billion cubic meters of gas from Shah Deniz per year.
Under the second phase, plans include producing roughly 20 billion cubic meters of gas a day.
The contract to develop the offshore Shah Deniz field was signed on June 4, 1996. Participants to the agreement are: BP (operator) - 25.5 percent, Statoil Hydro - 25.5 percent, NICO - 10 percent, Total - 10 percent, LukAgip - 10 percent, TPAO - 9 percent, SOCAR-10 percent.
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