BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov.15
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Israel wants to see Azerbaijani companies involved in its gas exploration, Israel’s outgoing ambassador to Azerbaijan Dan Stav said in an exclusive interview with Trend.
He recalled that the Caspian Drilling Company (CDC), 92.44 percent of which is owned by Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, was involved in gas exploration in Israel.
“It was not successful, regrettably. You know that gas exploration is not a 100 percent chance, it is about luck. So we do want to see Azerbaijani companies involved there. Azerbaijan has a lot to offer and we can learn a lot from your experience,” said the ambassador.
Stav went on to add that Israel would also like to learn from the experience of Azerbaijan’s state oil fund SOFAZ.
“You have built a very impressive mechanism. Even in tough economic times that I witnessed here in 2015-2016, still the government was very careful not just to splurge all the money that has been accumulated, but rather to use it very skillfully and very wisely. The concept of accumulating money for the future generations is very welcome and we can learn from you,” noted the Israeli ambassador.
Dan Stav went on to add that oil supplies from Azerbaijan to Israel are running very smoothly and Azerbaijan is a reliable supplier.
“Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline has enabled us to receive oil from Azerbaijan since 2006. The percentage of supplies is different every year, because it is a kind of a deal with Israeli private companies that are purchasing it for the refineries. But all in all, it is something between 25 to 33 percent of our consumption, which is very important,” said the Israeli ambassador.
He pointed out that Azerbaijan is also very much interested in developing cleaner energy, that’s to say, wind, solar and thermal energy and Israeli companies are interested in working with Azerbaijan in this sphere.
“Israel has at least interesting technologies in solar and wind energy. Israeli companies have shown interest to cooperate with Azerbaijan in renewable energy sphere. There is an issue of tariff. I think if it is commercially viable, Israeli companies would be very happy to work here,” noted Dan Stav.
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