Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 24 / Trend A. Akhundov /
The construction of the Syrian section of the gas pipeline between the Syrian city of Aleppo and the Turkish city of Kilis, through which Azerbaijani gas will be exported to Syria, will be completed within a month, Syria's Deputy Oil Minister Hassan Zainab told Trend over the phone.
The parties agreed to supply 1 billion cubic meters of gas during Syrian President Bashar al‑Assad's visit to Azerbaijan in July 2009.
He said that the total length of the gas pipeline between Kilis and Aleppo will hit about 65 kilometers.
Zainab told Trend that Syria can start importing gas from Azerbaijan in 2011, but the exact date has not been determined yet.
"The exact date has not been determined yet. There is no problem with this issue. We are just waiting when the Turkish side will complete constructing the remaining part of the pipeline between Turkey and Syria," Zainab said.
He said that the volume of imported gas will hit 2-3 million cubic meters per day.
The Turkish Ministry of Energy told Trend that the construction of the Turkish section of the Kilis-Aleppo pipeline will be completed in early 2012.
"BOTAŞ announced a tender to construct a sector of the gas pipeline from the town of Kilis to the border with Syria on Dec. 29, 2010. The proposals are accepted until Jan. 28, 2011. The work is expected to be completed within 360 days after the contract is signed and the territory is commissioned," the Ministry said.
According to the report, the project cost will be determined after the contract for the construction site is concluded.
According to the State U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Syria's proven gas reserves in 2009 amounted to 9 trillion cubic feet.
The gas production in Syria declined in 2004-2008, but it is expected to rapidly increase while implementing the new projects.
Gas production in Syria amounted to 219 billion cubic feet, the consumption - 251 billion cubic feet in 2009.
Gas production in the country amounted to 208 billion cubic feet, import - 5 billion, the consumption - 213 billion cubic feet in 2008.