Azerbaijan, Baku, May 11 /Trend E.Ismayilov/
SOCAR has held monitoring over gas pipelines in Azerbaijan on a regular basis to provide export operations and to provide gas to customers in Azerbaijan, a SOCAR source told Trend.
The source noted that inspection and timely detection of problems in the transportation system are among the most important activities of SOCAR. Special monitoring is carried out over a trunk gas pipelines, leading to the north (Russia), west (Georgia) and South (Iran).
"In this regard a program of activities to control the work of gas pipeline is created," the source said.
Referring to the fire, which occurred in mid-April on the pipeline Altyagadzh Agsu, the source said that part of the pipeline system is in contact with the ground and suffers the impact of the environment and therefore even a small crack can cause a fire.
"All necessary measures are taken to prevent similar cases, and the most effective means are monitoring, timely detection of leaks and repair or replacement," the source said.
The Altyagadzh Agsu line is part of the pipeline Mozdok-Gazimagomed by which gas is supplied to Russia. Problems encountered in the pipeline, did not affect the supply of gas to Russia.
SOCAR plans to commission second new branch of Altyagadzh-Agsu on May 15. Transportation of gas through the old line will be stopped after the commissioning of the new gas pipeline. At the same time the old line will not be dismantled, it will remain as a backup.