Azerigaz AO pumped nearly 1bn m3 of gas to subsurface gasholders to date. During this year, nearly 1.1bn m3 shall be pumped in gasholders in total in order to provide the republic with gas in fall and winter 2006/2007, Trend reports quoting Alihan Melikov, chairman of AO.
Record quantity of gas, 1.025bn m3, has been pumped in gasholders in 2005, which enabled uninterrupted gas supply to the population in winter 2005/2006 despite the increase of gas consumption in respect to adverse weather conditions. In 2004, Azerigaz obtained nearly 846mln m3 of gas pumped in gasholders as well.
Two gasholders, Garadagh and Kalmaz, are used today in Azerbaijan. Their total capacity is 1 to1.1bn m3. Capacity of Garadagh holder is scheduled to be raised to 2-2.2 bn and that of Kalmaz to 1-1.2bn m3. Preliminary cost of such operations is $120mln.
The increase of gasholders capacity is suggested with the purpose of pumping and storing increasing volumes of gas in Azerbaijan.