Azerigaz JSC had nearly 852mln m3 of gas pumped to the subsurface gasholders (including the gas pumped last year), said Nazim Samedzadeh, Deputy Chairman, Azerigaz, up 150mln m3 over year. The pumping operations ended in November 2006. This gas is intended for use during the Fall-Winter 2006/2007 season.
Azerigaz commenced pumping gas to gasholders on April 15, 2006. By the end of the year a total of 1.030bn m3 of gas will be pumped.
During 2005, a record amount of gas (1.025bn m3) was pumped in the gasholders, which allowed uninterrupted gas supply to the population in Winter 2006/2007 regardless of the increased consumption due to adverse weather conditions. During 2004 Azerigaz received nearly 846mln m3 of gas pumped to gasholders.
At present two gasholders, Garadagh and Kalmaz, are used in Azerbaijan. Their total capacity is 1 to 1.1bn m3. The enlargement operations are suggested to increase the capacity of Garadagh holder to 2-2.2bn and that of Kalmaz to 1-1.2bn m3. The World Bank is currently showing its interest in funding this project.