Azerbaijan, Baku, May 12 / Trend, E.Ismayilov /
Azerbaijan and Switzerland have achieved success within a memorandum of understanding on security of supplies in the energy sector signed in 2007, Walter Steinmann, State Secretary of Energy and Director of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy said today.
"Three years ago we signed a bilateral agreement on security of supplies in the energy sector. Now, three years later, it's time to see what happened during this period, and whether there is progress. Yes, there is success. While reviewing we have seen that very good contacts within this memorandum have been established," Steinmann said.
According to him, if in 2007 Azerbaijani oil was not imported by Switzerland, then in 2008 the amount of oil imported from Azerbaijan, amounted to 2.6 per cent of total amount of oil imported by this country. In 2009 the figure was 20 percent. Only in January 2010, Azerbaijani oil accounted for 39 percent of the total amount of oil imported by Switzerland.
Further measures to clarify the situation with the project Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) are undertaken in the gas sector.
"I am sure that the TPA is one of the projects, in realization of which Azerbaijan is interested," Steinmann said.
According to him, firstly an agreement between Turkey and Azerbaijan is needed to advance the TAP project. Secondly, this project needs more major support of the European countries. "Therefore, I believe that joint work with with the "players" in other countries is the best way to advance the TPA. After this there will be a question whether there is sufficient gas for the pipeline or not," Steinmann said.
According to Steinmann, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Turkey and Switzerland in November of 2009, part of which is the gas transit through Turkey.
At present, Europe tries to diversify its gas supplies to ensure energy security. Operations are underway to create reserves of energy, particularly natural gas storage facilities.