Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 17 /Trend E.Ismayilov/
Debt problems in Europe will not affect the choice of route for transporting Azeri gas, the head of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovnag Abdullayev said on Tuesday.
Abdullayev noted that important elements in choosing a route are the European gas market, gas prices (for the future decades), and low transit fees.
Currently, SOCAR is considering all three pipeline projects intended to the supply Azerbaijani gas to European markets.
Abdullaev confirmed the intention of SOCAR to select a route to transport gas by the end of the first quarter of 2012.
All routes, which are considered by SOCAR, pass through the Southern Gas Corridor.
Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priorities for the EU energy projects. It is intended to diversify the routes and sources of supply and thereby increase the energy security of the EU. Nabucco, Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and ITGI are included in Southern Gas Corridor pipeline.
The main source of supply of Azerbaijani gas to Europe is Shah Deniz field, with reserves of 1.2 billion cubic meters.