The Azerbaijan Minister of Industry and Energy, Natig Aliyev, said on December 19 in Baku that if the terms of the natural gas import from Russia in 2007 does not satisfy Azerbaijan, then the country will refuse to purchase the fuel, Trend reports.
According to him, the gas purchased from Russia is directed to the electric power stations, and mazut is exported in exchange of this. But due to the increase of the prices for the imported gas, the interest in the mazut export decreases.
For several years, the country has been engaged in the mazut exportation and its replacement with gas. We received incomes from this. Presently Russia raised the gas prices. We will consider if the co-operation is beneficial or not for us. Belarus and Lithuania have agreed with the new prices. Azerbaijan is offered gas at $230 per 1,000 cu.m. Presently, it is not beneficial for Azerbaijan, he said.
If the imported gas from Russia is cheaper, we would continue purchasing it. The work in this respect is continuing and negotiations are not complete. Till January 1, 2007, Azerbaijan will receive gas from Russia in the volume of 15 mln cu.m a day, said the Minister.