Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 25 /. Trend E.Ismayilov /
Work on the construction of new gas mains and reconstruction of the existing ones will be carried out in accordance with the plan developed by Gas Export Department of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), a source in the SOCAR company told Trend on Monday.
The entire system of the country's gas mains which was previously on balance of Azeriqaz production association was transferred under control of Gas Export Department currently developing the program.
According to the source, this area is a priority and currently work is continued on the preparation of a special program.
"It is too early to talk about the timing of the completion, as the department has recently started this process," the source said.
As another SOCAR source said previously, in general, all gas mains were laid in the 70-80ies of the last century, so they are in need of modernization, reconstruction and replacement of some sections. Despite the fact that work on the repair and maintenance of gas mains is conducted regularly, preparation of a plan and implementation of activities in accordance with it is reasonable and necessary.
SOCAR supplies gas to Georgia and Russia through export gas mains. Also, as part of swap operations SOCAR exports gas to Iran to provide Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan with gas.
SOCAR includes the Azneft production association (the companies producing oil and gas both on and offshore), the Azerkimya industrial association (chemical enterprises) and Azeriqaz industrial association (gas distribution).