Ingilab Ahmadov, the Chief of the Public Finances Monitoring Centre, informed Trend that Azerbaijan should not take untimely steps to join a new association of gas exports (similar to OPEC). Notably, Iran has recently announced about the establishment of this organization.
According to him, it is too early to speak about Azerbaijan participation in it. The Country cannot take anything in this respect until it is aware of the countries, which are to comprise the above-mentioned organization, as well as policy it will carry out, he said.
Azerbaijan is preparing for the export of significant gas volumes to Europe in few years. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan may join the project of the South-Caucasian Gas Pipeline (SCP) through laying the TransCaspian gas pipeline.
According to some data, such countries like Iran, Algeria, and Russia may join the gas cartel. Experts say that the control over the gas prices within the new gas OPEC would be efficient if EU restrict the implementation of long-term contracts, particularly with the Russian gas giant of GazProm.
Experts note that it will be impossible to organize and maintain the work of the gas cartel if the principles on pricing are not changed in EU.
Some experts also think that the foundation of a gas OPEC is out of the question until issues connected with the access to gas markets and pricing conditions of the partnership are not solved.