Azerbaijan, Baku, June 28 / Trend E. Ismayilov /
Azerbaijan is technically ready to supply and transit electric power within the North-South energy corridor project, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Abbasov said at the round table "Joint energy projects with an emphasis on strengthening the strategic partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan" in Baku today.
"Azerbaijan has carried out the work to construct the substations in the north and the south," Abbasov said. "The second line Parsabad-2 has been also laid. Despite the conducted work in the Azerbaijani territory, the issue of implementing the project is still open."
Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department under the Russian Ministry of Energy Mikhail Pleshkin said during the round-table that the North-South energy corridor project is of great importance to its participants.
"In particular, the project will enable Azerbaijan to strengthen its position as a country transiting electric power, as well as ensure the implementation of its export potential," Pleshkin said. "On-peak time periods during weekends and seasonally in Russia and Iran create opportunities to exchange electric power."
The Russian side has submitted the requirements specification draft of the project to Azerbaijan and Iran this year.
"We hope that we will begin specific operations soon," Pleshkin said.
During the round table the Russian side has expressed interest in participating in the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey energy bridge project, which involves the supply of electric power to Turkey and to the European market in the future.
The round table is being held within the third Azerbaijani-Russian inter-regional forum "Russian-Azerbaijani dialogue 2012."