Project Shakhdaniz is of a great importance to Turkey, and Botash Company is very successfully implementing it, Khilmi Guler, Turkey Energy and Natural Resources Minister said today, commenting a message concerning a possible delay of supplying Azerbaijani gas to Turkey, spread by Zaman, Trendreports referring to Turkish media sources.
We are very successfully implementing this project. The above-mentioned rumours are a part of the speculation of certain circles. There are no barriers from Russia in this issue at all. Such projects are of an international nature and implemented on the basis of intergovernmental and interstate agreements. Everything has been discussed and agreed, said the Turkish Minister.
Touching upon the issue on operation of BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) pipeline, Mr. Guler said that to date, Azerbaijani oil has been shipped by over 60 tankers. BTC is bringing large incomes, and Shakhdaniz Projects is very important to us as well as BTC. Work on the implementation of the gas project has been put into the final phase. I think that till the end of 2006, Turkey will receive the first gas, said Mr. Guler.
According to him, Azerbaijan and Georgia has introduced some claims on extending their shares in the produced gas. The above-mentioned issue is being jointly discussed now. Turkey is ready for importing Azerbaijani gas, said Mr. Guler.