Azerbaijan, Baku, 3 June / Trend corr. I.Khalilova / The Azerbaijani government considers that the current electric energy sector should be under the state property. This will allow to the government to interfere while making any strategic decisions at any time, Arthur Rasizade, Azerbaijani Prime Minister, stated in the opening ceremony of annual exhibition 'Caspian Oil and Gas 2008 exhibition', on 3 June.
The Azerbaijani government has not taken any decision to construct a private electric station in the country which was proposed by the South Korean company Kepco.
"The government has different positions on the issue. There are some supporters; as well one's who opposes this issue. I have not made my own decision on this issue yet," Rasizade said.
According to Rasizade, such a decision will create competitiveness and may lead to reduction of electric energy cost. "Today, the most profitable business is to construct electric power station and sale of electric energy,' the Prime Minister said.
"On the other side, I have made a conclusion that nobody can liveonly with the economy market principles, and the state must take into consideration the national interests as well."
The cost of the Kepco project to construct a private thermoelectric power station with capacity of 818 MWt near the Alat settlement of Baku is evaluated at AZN 640mln (€523mln).
It is expected that 0.185 cu m natural gas will be used to get 1 KWt/h of energy, and about 5.4kwt/h energy will be produced. If Azerbaijan will accept Kepco's proposal, the electric power station will be built within 3 or 3.5 years.