Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend V.Sharifov / Realizing Shah Deniz Stage 2 has been fixed to begin in 2013. The Vice President of Statoil Azerbaijan, Yan Heiberg, said on 5 July that nearly 12 bln cu.m. of gas is expected to be exported from the field per year within Stage 2.
"We have very ambitious plans in Stage 2 project. We wish to realize them as soon as possible," he said.
The gas in the Stage 1 and Stage 2 will be exported via South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP). Statoil is the commercial operator of Shah Deniz and Head of Azerbaijan Gas Supply Company in Stage 1.
According to Heiberg, presently the capacity of SCP equals at least 9 bln cu.m of gas per year and may be expanded up to 20 bln cu.m through constructing nearly five pumping stations.
"Expanding SCP is very important in Stage 2," he said. Touching upon the gas sale market in Stage 2, Heiberg stressed that potential Azerbaijani gas purchasing countries are Austria, Italy, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
" Azerbaijan suggests very beneficial commercial conditions in the plan of launching gas from Shah Deniz. But presently the Country increases the personal gas production due to which it needs to discuss the upcoming gas demand of the Country," he said.
Azerbaijan has adopted a gas program which envisages increasing own gas production of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan up to 8 bln cu.m. per year. In addition, there are prospects of development of deep-lying gas which is located in the field of Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli. The operator for oil development on the field is BP and the development of the gas territory is the subject of separate agreement.