Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 5 / Trend /
Turkey
intends to increase purchase of Azerbaijani gas in the second phase of
development of the offshore Shah Deniz field. It is necessary to determine
appropriate conditions, advisor to Turkish Prime Minister, Turkish
parliamentary industry, commerce, energy, natural resources, science and
technology commission member Taner Yildiz said in Baku at a meeting with
Azerbaijani Industry and Energy Minister of Natig Aliyev.
Azerbaijan has great potential to increase gas supplies to Turkey. Azerbaijan intends to transit its gas via Turkey to Europe, said Aliyev.
According to Yildiz, Turkey sees Azerbaijan as a transit country with a large
gas infrastructure to deliver Turkmen gas.
The contract on development of off-shore Shah Deniz field was signed on 4 June 1996. Shah Deniz participating interests are: ВР (operator - 25.5%), StatoilHydro (25.5%), SOCAR (10%), LukAgip (10%), NICO (10%), Total (10%), and TPAO (9%).
Gas production from the field began in December 2006. Gas is transported to Georgia and Turkey through the South Caucasus gas pipeline. Azerbaijan also buys the gas.
Over 9 billion cubic meters of gas per year will be produced during first stage of the project. Production will be increased to 20 billion cubic meters during the second stage to commence after 2012.