Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 15 / Trend E. Ismayilov /
Today, Hungary and Romania commissioned the gas pipeline Arad-Szeged. It will transport Azerbaijani gas via the territory of these countries within the project Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector (AGRI), a statement posted on the official website of the Hungarian oil and gas company MOL said.
A 47-kilometer-gas pipeline connects Hungarian and Romanian gas distribution systems.
"MOL Group thinks that a single gas market in Central and Eastern Europe can be created on the basis of regional cooperation. The standard platform, based on the infrastructure, may become the basis for the purchase of gas from new sources in the region. Arad-Szeged gas pipeline increases the competition on the market. It will provide a number of advantages for both traders and consumers, " MOL company head Zsolt Hernadi said.
The work to connect natural gas networks of Romania and Hungary is set for late 2010. This will enable to transport gas through these countries to Baumgarten, Austria, which is a gas distribution center in Europe, Azerbaijani Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev said.
Three capacity volumes are being considered for the project: 2 billion cubic meters of gas a year, 5 billion cubic meters and 8 billion cubic meters, Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev said earlier. According to preliminary data, the cost varies from 1.2 billion to 4.5 billion euros depending on capacity.
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary signed the Baku Declaration on AGRI project in Baku September 14.
The project to supply Azerbaijani liquefied natural gas to Romania envisages the construction of two terminals for liquefied natural gas - one in Georgia and the other in Romania. According to preliminary data, the project will cost 4.6 billion euro.
The project envisages transporting Azerbaijani gas via pipelines to the Black Sea coast of Georgia, where the gas will be liquefied at a special terminal, after which the gas will be delivered to the terminal in the Romanian port of Constanta by tankers. Later the liquefied gas will be converted into natural gas and, using gas infrastructure available throughout the country, will be sent to cover the needs of Romania and other European countries.