Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend I.Khalilova / SOCAR and Bulgargaz, the Azerbaijan and Bulgarian oil and gas companies, agreed upon interaction in the oil and gas sector. Sergey Stanishev, the Bulgarian Prime Minister, said in a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Artur Rasizade in Baku on 12 November.
"In this respect we will consider Nabucco gas project, because it is of priority and infrastructure importance not only for member-states, but also for the European Union, which even appointed coordinator on the project," Stanishev said.
With this respect, Nabucco is interesting not only for oil and gas producers, but also for the EU, in term of implementing infrastructure projects to be discussed in future.
Azerbaijan voiced his hope for this gas project and readiness in energy supply, provision of security and diversification of energy resources to Europe. Rasizade stressed the importance of political support to officials and business people from Nabucco member-countries, including Bulgaria, as well as the EU.
"Despite of definite resistance, Azerbaijan achieved the implementation of two oil and gas projects of world significance - the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum projects, which is designed for diversification of deliveries of energy resources, including to the EU countries," the Azerbaijani Premier stressed.
Presently, the oil reserves of Azerbaijan are estimated to 1bln barrels, and gas 1trln cu m.
The 4.000km-long Nabucco gas pipeline will ensure gas delivery via the Mediterranean and Caspian Sea to Europe via Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tbilisi, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Austria. Operation of the gas pipeline will commence in 2011. The project is estimated at €5bln. Nabucco is developed by the companies of OMV, MOL ( Hungary), Botas ( Turkey), Bulgargaz ( Bulgaria) and Transgaz (Romania).