Several documents should be signed for Azerbaijani gas supplies to Greece

Kazakhstan, Astana, June 6 / Trend A.Maratov E.Ismayilov /

Azerbaijan and Turkey can be expected to sign a gas agreement package at any time, a senior official of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) said in Astana.
The gas agreement package between the parties includes questions on the supply of gas to Turkey in the first and second stages of the development of the Shah Deniz gas field, as well as the transit of Azerbaijani gas via Turkey.

The source said that the delay in signing the agreements is associated with the decision being of major political import for Turkey, having never transported gas before.
Regarding the issue of direct deliveries of Azerbaijani gas to Greece, the source said SOCAR is ready to replace the Turkish state pipeline company Botas with these supplies, but will require signing several agreements.

These include signing an agreement between Greece and Azerbaijan on the sale of gas, an agreement on the transfer of the right to transport gas between Greece and Turkey, which must also be signed in a tripartite manner, and an agreement transporting Azerbaijani gas via Turkey.

The source noted that a universal agreement or document to supply specific amounts of gas should also be signed.

Earlier, the heads of SOCAR and DEPA (Greek State Gas Company) signed a memorandum of understanding.

Earlier SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev said that Azerbaijani gas has been re-exported to Greece via the Turkish Botas since 2007. However, at present, SOCAR and DEPA are negotiating diversion contracts between Turkey and Greece for the direct delivery from SOCAR. The annual shipments of Azerbaijani gas to Greece is now roughly 700 million cubic meters.