Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 2 /Trend, E.Ismayilov, N.Ismayilova/
The beginning of direct deliveries of gas from Azerbaijan to Greece via Turkey will be the first step in opening the Southern Gas Corridor, designed to diversify gas supplies to Europe, the executive director of the Greek DEPA Company Gary Sachinis said on Wednesday in Baku.
According to him, on Tuesday, DEPA, SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) and the Turkish Botas State Pipeline Company agreed to explore the possibility of transporting gas directly from Azerbaijan through Turkey to Greece.
"It is too early to say anything, this is the beginning of the process and if we see that from a commercial point of view, it [the direct sales] is justified, we will sign an agreement. We want to do it quickly, SOCAR and Botas want it. Yesterday the basis was laid for this process," said Sachinis.
According to him, Azerbaijan will be able to directly sell gas to Europe with transit through Turkey. According to Sachinis, this is an important step.
Currently, Azerbaijani gas in volume of about 700 million cubic meters per year is transported to Greece from Turkey on the basis of an agreement between the latter two countries.