OPEC President Edmond Dakouru, as well as the Nigerian Petroleum Minister, has voiced his concerns on Azerbaijans plans to increase oil production, Trend reports citing the foreign media. Dacauru said that increase of oil production in Azerbaijan in 2007 may result in an additional impact on world oil prices.
Along with Azerbaijan, other countries, including Angola, Brazil and some Caspian countries, can also put pressure on prices.
In 2007 Azerbaijan plans to produce over 30 million tons of oil. Major portions of oil will be produced by the Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli fields. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan itself produces 9 million tons of oil from its own fields.
Azerbaijani oil at present is exported via the Baku-Novorossiysk, Baku-Supsa, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipelines and via railway to the Georgian port of Batumi.