Azerbaijan, Baku, April 19 / Trend E. Ismailov /
For transportation of gas from Azerbaijani 'Shah Deniz' gas condensate field, Statoil's does not need to have a share in Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline project (TANAP) similar to its share in 'Shah-Deniz', General Manager ofAzerbaijan Gas Supply Company, operated by Norwegian Statoil, Per Johan Bugge told journalists on Friday.
According to him, in accordance to general principles, a company having a certain share in an extraction project should have a similar share in the respective pipeline project.
"But this does not cover TANAP project, because it will have a large capacity and is designed to transport gas not only from Shah Deniz field," Bagge said.
Statoil has a 25.5-percent share in Shah-Deniz field development project.
According to Bagge, Statoil's 12-percent share in TANAP project will be enough to ensure gas transportation from from 'Shah Deniz' by the pipeline.
"I cannot comment on this issue in the course of negotiations. I can only speak in general terms," Bagge said.
Referring to the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding with SOCAR on perspective gas condensate structures 'Zafar' and 'Mashal', providing transportation of gas from these structures in the future in case the project succeed, Bagge said that in order to get any results, first of all it is necessary to reach an agreement with SOCAR.
"After that we can talk about the development, and all that, considering the limited number of drilling rigs in the Caspian Sea. That is we, still have time and this is not an issue of the nearest future," Bagge said.
SOCAR partners on Shah Deniz gas field development project presented their preliminary intentions to acquire a stake in the TANAP project. According to preliminary data, the partners intend to distribute a 29 per cent share in TANAP as follows: Statoil and BP are to receive 12 per cent each and Total would get five per cent.
TANAP project provides gas delivery from Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas field to Europe through Turkey. The initial capacity of the pipeline is expected to reach 16 billion cubic meters a year. About 6 billion cubic meters will be delivered to Turkey, and the rest - to Europe..