Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 10 / Trend E.Ismayilov /
The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) completes the work on installing an automation system in the framework of the commissioning of a new compressor plant near the gas compressor station in Astara, a source in SOCAR said. The new compressor plant is an important element in the gas transmission system between Azerbaijan and Iran, with commissioning of which will start the export of Azerbaijani commercial gas to the neighboring country.
"Basically, everything is ready. We are carrying out the finishing work on the automation system," the source said.
According to him, the export of Azerbaijani gas to Iran will start in February under a contract signed by SOCAR and the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC).
SOCAR and NIGEC signed an agreement on long-term supplies of Azerbaijani gas to Iran in Baku on Jan.12. Under the contract, which concludes after 5 years, Azerbaijan will supply 1 billion cubic meters of gas to Iran in 2011 and the volume will increase in the coming years.
The contract was signed by SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev and NIGEC General Director Javad Oji.
Azerbaijan and Iran are connected with the Astara-Bind-Biand gas pipeline length 1,474.5 kilometers, including 296.5 kilometers in the territory of Azerbaijan. Its design capacity was 10 billion cubic meters a year; now it is lower. This route is a branch of the Gazakh-Astara-Iran pipeline commissioned in 1971. Three compressor stations, including in Gazi-Magomed, Aghdash and Gazakh, were built on its route. The transmission system is designed to pressure 55 atmospheres. The pipe's diameter is 1,200 mm.