Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend I.Khalilova / The Minister of Economic Development of Azerbaijan, Heydar Babayev, stated on 27 February that Israel expressed its interest in cooperating with Azerbaijan in the oil and gas sphere.
According to him, an interest was taken in purchasing Azerbaijani oil from the Turkish Port of Ceyhan. The oil to Ceyhan is delivered via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Presently 30% of the oil refined in the oil refinery in Haifa falls to raw oil from Azerbaijan. In addition, negotiations were held on the construction of Ceyhan-Ashkelon gas pipe. The Minister considers at present they need to think of the sale market Azerbaijani gas. "They are interested in purchasing our gas within "Phase- 1" project of "Shah Deniz"," the Minister said.
According to him, these questions will be considered together with the Minister of Industry and Energy of Azerbaijan.