Azerbaijan, Baku, 23 January /corr. Trend S.Aliyev / In February talks will take place between the Azerbaijani company Azerenergy JSC and the Russian 'Inter-RAO United Electricity System' with regards to changes in tariffs for electricity, the Vice President of Azerenergy, Marlen Askerov, said on 23 January.
"The Russian side suggested an increase in the cost of electricity sale-purchase by 30%. Currently this issue is under consideration," Askerov said. As a result of considering the proposals, Azerbaijan may accept or refuse to acquire electricity form Russia at the new prices.
The volume of electricity from Azerbaijan to Russia as a result of the year is more than the volume of purchase. The volume of the electricity production in Azerbaijan fully satisfies demand.
Since the beginning of the year, Azerbaijan and Russia have been continuing mutual electricity exchange according to the existing agreement.
The agreement for the delivery of electricity has been calculated for the whole of 2007. However, the tariffs have been adopted for only the first quarter of the year. In the first quarter of 2007, Azerbaijan imported Russian electricity at the same price as in 2006, 3.636 cents per 1 KW/h. The cost of Azerbaijani electricity for Russia has been increased from 1.58 cents to 1.8 cents per 1 KW/h. In accordance with the agreement, Russia supplies Azerbaijan with electricity during busy periods at a time when Azerbaijan has electrical power shortages, at a capacity of 200-250 MW.