Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug.3 / Trend E.Ismayilov /
SOCAR (State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic) launched pumping of Azerbaijani oil, planned for August through Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline (west direction), source in Oil and Gas market said on Aug.3. Oil pumping will continue till Aug. 27.
Oil pumping, which is scheduled to be transported through the pipeline in August, has already launched, the source said.
At present, average oil pumping through the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline is 10,000 tons per a day, the source said.
According to forecasts, it is planned to transport about 240,000 tons of Azerbaijani oil through the pipeline in August compared to 248,000 tons in July. It is planned to transport 140,000 tons of oil in September, 248,000 tons in October, 240,000 tons in November and 140,000 tons in December.
Transportation of the Azerbaijani oil through Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline will be suspended three times for a total of 24 hours due to the planned technical operations, the source said earlier. According to schedule, the oil pumping through the pipeline will be suspended on Aug.12, 18 and 25 for eight hours per a day.
SOCAR pumps own oil through Novorossiysk port. SOCAR exported more than 1.2 million tons of oil through the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline in January-June, SOCAR said.
SOCAR intends to increase oil export by 2.5 million tons through Baku - Novorossiysk pipeline in 2009, compared to 1.3 million tons in 2008.
At present, Azerbaijan gets Urals oil (in the port of Novorossiysk) while transportation of oil via Baku - Novorossiysk pipeline due to mixing with other producers' oil.
The Azerbaijan International Operating Company, which has transferred its functions to SOCAR, was the operator of the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline by late 2007.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: [email protected]