Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept.15. / Trend E.Ismayilov /
SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) plans to launch the construction of the complex for gas compression and storage in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR), Akbar Hajiyev, head of the Azerigaz PU, which is part of SOCAR, said on Sept.15.
At present, the company conducts design work as a part of the construction of the complex for gas compression and storage, Hajiyev added.
The project is almost ready. The construction work is likely to be launched by late 2009, Hajiyev added.
It will be possible to store about 150 million cubic meters of gas at the final stage, compared to a 90 million cubic meters in early stage, Abdullayev said earlier.
According to Abdullayev, the construction of the complex for gas compression and storage will ensure energy security of the NAR. The complex will supply the NAR with gas during the winter months in case of supply from Iran or Turkey is ceased.
Previously, exploratory work on construction of underground gas storage facilities in the NAR has been conducted under the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's order. An exploration well was drilled. The exploration work showed that the geology of the NAR does not permit to construct underground gas storage here. Therefore, it was decided to construct a complex of gas compression and storage.
There are two underground gas storages in Azerbaijan, including Garadagh gas storage with a 500 million cubic meters active capacity and Kalmaz with a 1.1 billion cubic meters active capacity.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: [email protected]