Starting 2007, Georgia will receive 1.2bn m3 of gas a year from Azerbaijans field Shah Deniz. Georgian Energy Minister Nika Gilauri told Trends special correspondent that such an agreement was reached during the meeting between presidents of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey in Ceyhan at the ceremony of BTC pipeline commissioning.
Gilauri underlined Azerbaijan is an alternative to Russian suppliers of natural gas.
Minister said gas import from Russia, previously the only Georgias gas supplier, is reducing by 40% fro early 2007.
Gilauri also said in the closest future the country will be receiving gas via four pipelines, two of which are in possession of Azerbaijani and Russia; apart from Shah Deniz, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan also had stated its readiness to supply natural gas to Georgia.
Minister said Gazprom will get a rival in Georgia, which is very good. В"It gives our country a bonus at conversations. Now each company will know Georgia has another gas supplierВ", minister said.
Gilauri said energy ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey are meeting in Tbilisi in August to discuss some details. Experts say Azeri gas price will total at most $110 per 1k m3, the same as Georgia pays Russia today. However, experts warn that starting 2007 Russia will ask no less than $170 per 1k m3 from Georgia.