Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 27 /Trend, E.Ismayilov/\
According to forecasts, this year Azerbaijan will export 1.6 billion cubic meters of gas to Georgia as compared to 875 million cubic meters in 2010, stated in the summary table on the official stand of SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) at the National Exhibition "Independent Azerbaijan for 20 years".
Of the total volume of gas to be delivered to Georgia, 800 million cubic meters will account for SOCAR, and the other part - the gas from Shah Deniz offshore gas field in Azerbaijan.
Also, according to forecasts, this year Azerbaijan will export 6.6 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey from the first phase of Shah Deniz field development. Last year, about 4.36 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas were exported to Turkey.
The contract to develop the offshore Shah Deniz field was signed June 4, 1996. Participants to the agreement are: BP (operator) - 25.5 percent, Statoil Hydro - 25.5 percent, NICO - 10 percent, Total - 10 percent, Lukoil - 10 percent, TPAO - 9 percent, SOCAR-10 percent.
At present, gas is transported to Georgia and Turkey via the South Caucasus gas pipeline.
Upon the mid-term contract signed between SOCAR and the Russian Gazprom, this year Azerbaijan will export two billion cubic meters of gas to Russia compared to 800 million cubic meters last year.
Within swap operations, Azerbaijan supplies gas to Iran to cover gas needs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. This year, Azerbaijan will transport 345 million cubic meters of gas to Iran compared to 330 million cubic meters last year. Of the total volume of gas to be transported to Iran this year, 300 million cubic meters will be transferred to NAR compared to 250 million cubic meters last year.