Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 19 / Trend E.Ismayilov /
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) transports about 6,500 tons of oil via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline per day, a source in the oil and gas market said today.
"At present, the company transports about 6,500 tons of oil via this pipeline under the volumes destined for January," the source said.
In January, the Baku-Novorossiysk will transport 130,000 tons of oil. SOCAR will pump 450,000 tons of in the first quarter, the source added.
Further, the volume of daily pumping through the pipeline will be reduced to 2,500 per day. SOCAR has already submitted a notification to Russia on this matter and now the company expects answer. "The oil pumping is expected to be reduced to carry out clean-up in reservoirs," the source said. Under the plan, the oil volume destined for January should be pumped until Jan.21.
Based on the forecasts, in 2010, Azerbaijan will pump 1.8 million tons of oil via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline compared to 2.5 million tons in 2009. In 2008 the figure was 1.2 million tons.
SOCAR transships its own oil, as well as oil of joint ventures and operating companies operating in Azerbaijan's onshore fields, through Novorossiysk.
Azerbaijan exports URALS oil from the Novorossiysk port, which is delivered via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline. The high quality Azerbaijani oil, including Azeri Light, is blended with other oil brands in the Russian pipeline system and is sold from the Novorossiysk Port as URALS.
Until late 2007, AIOC was the operator of Baku-Novorossiysk. The structure then transferred these functions to SOCAR.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: [email protected]