Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend V.Sharifov / The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) submitted a request to Russian Transneft for pumping of 1mln tons of oil in 2008 (some 80,000 tons a month) via Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline, SOCAR reported on 1 November.
"We may pump over 1mln tons of oil via Baku-Novorossiysk in 2008," a SOCAR representative said. Volume of the oil pumped via the pipeline will be contingent on oil processing at Baku oil refineries. SOCAR annually produces 8.9mln tons of oil in Azerbaijani fields through its own funds. About 6.5mln tons of the oil is processed at 2 Baku oil refineries. Export of Russian gas was suspended on 1 January, 2007, which was necessary for operation of Azerbaijani electric stations. Baku oil refineries turned to black oil for oil processing, which caused a decrease in export of oil through pipelines, he said.
"Oil processing may be modernized in 2008 and we will be able to export more raw materials," he said.
SOCAR plans to pump 160,000 tons of oil via Baku-Novorossiysk in November, and 80,000-83,000 tons in December. In November export will grow through decrease in oil supplies to Baku oil refinery named after Heydar Aliyev as a vacuum set will be repaired at the plant.