Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Aliyev / Natik Aliyev, the Azerbaijani Minister for Industry and Energy, stated on 21 August that Azerbaijan is eager to become an independent seller of its gas to Europe and in particular to Turkey.
Azerbaijan currently sells its gas to Turkey via Georgia. Azerbaijan is eager to sell gas itself in the Turkish market and elsewhere. Azerbaijan also wants similar conditions which are applied to other companies and countries that use the Turkish infrastructure. At present talks are being carried out on this issue.
"We want to know the conditions for export of gas to Turkey,' the minister said.
Azerbaijan is also eager to study the terms of transit via Turkey for sale of its gas to Europe under contracts that it will conclude in European countries.
This will be covered by the Shah Deniz field, which is scheduled for 2011-2012. Within the framework of the second stage, gas production from this field will increase from 12bln cu m to 21bln cu m. Azerbaijan will sell this gas.
At present the volume of blue fuel in the country is estimated at 1.5trln cu m. This volume will increase by production from other fields the minister said.