Review of oil and gas operations in Azerbaijan (January-March 2014)

1. FEC

а) Oil and Gas Production

Azerbaijan produced 10.43 million tonnes of oil and gas condensate in Jan.-March 2014, which is by 3.2 percent less than in the same period of 2013, the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee said.

Azerbaijan produced 43.1 million tonnes of oil and gas condensate in 2013 compared to 42.98 million tonnes in 2012.

The bulk of oil production in 2013 fell to the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli oil and gas field block and Shah Deniz gas condensate field being developed jointly with foreign partners.

Azerbaijan produced 4.54 billion cubic meters of tank gas in Jan.-March, which is by 4.2 percent more compared to Jan.-March 2013.

Azerbaijan produced 17.9 billion cubic meters of tank gas in 2013, compared to 17.24 billion cubic meters in 2012.

The Shah Deniz consortium has held discussions on the further development and increase of gas and condensate production at the field. The reserves of the Shah Deniz field are expected to increase from the current 1.2 trillion to 1.4-1.5 trillion cubic meters of gas. The field's reserves can be increased through the development of the reservoirs, located in the deeper layers (below the producing formation). It is planned to increase the condensate production from the current 55,000 barrels per day to 120,000 barrels per day. The issues regarding the conduction of seismic surveys, as well as exploratory drilling have already been agreed. The implementation of the project will start after 2025.

b) Processing

Some 306,700 tonnes of petrol were produced in Azerbaijan in Jan.-March 2014, which is 11.5 percent less compared to the same period of 2013, the State Statistics Committee reported.

Currently, the work on reconstruction and modernization of several facilities for petrol production in the country is underway at the Baku Oil Refinery named after Heydar Aliyev. Main types of light of products are produced at this refinery.

In total, Azerbaijan produced nearly 1.2 million tonnes of the main petroleum products in Jan.-March.

About 1.41 million tonnes of petrol were produced in Azerbaijan in 2013 compared to about 1.3 million tonnes in 2012. Azerbaijan produced 5.09 million tonnes of main petroleum products in 2013.

Summary table of production of oil products in Azerbaijan:

c) Sale

Around 1.14 million tonnes of oil products were delivered to the Azerbaijani domestic market in Jan.-March, which is by 3.2 percent less compared to the same period of 2013, the State Statistics Committee said.

Fuel oil supplies (by 77.6 percent) and liquefied natural gas (by 10.5 percent) increased on the domestic market in Jan.-March. A decrease in supplies of other types of oil products was observed.

Around 5.2 million tonnes of oil products were delivered to Azerbaijan's domestic market in 2013, compared to 4.8 million tonnes in 2012.

Over 1.55 million tonnes of Azerbaijani oil products were delivered to consumers (including exports) in Jan.-March, compared to 1.57 million tonnes in the same period of 2013, according to the report.

Around 73.5 percent of the total volume of petroleum products delivered to customers was sold on the domestic market, while the remaining 26.5 percent went to export.

Around 6.8 million tonnes of Azerbaijani oil products were delivered to consumers (including exports) in 2013 or 3.9 percent more than in 2012.

Around 77.5 percent of the total volume of petroleum products delivered to customers was sold on the domestic market, while the remaining 22.5 percent went to export.

2. Chemical complex

Azerbaijan produced 23,100 tonnes of polyethylene in Jan.-March, 2014, which is by 3.3 percent more than in the same period of 2013, the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee said.

Some 14,100 tonnes of polyethylene were produced in the country in the first quarter, which is 113.4 percent more than in the same period of 2013.

Some 76,000 tonnes of polyethylene were produced in the country in 2013, which is 13.9 percent more than in 2012.

A decrease in production was observed in other kinds of chemical products in Jan.-March, 2014, according to the State Statistics Committee.

Production of basic chemical products:

The country produced 3,600 tonnes of hard polyethylene pipes, tubes and hoses in Jan.-March, which is 40.8 percent less than in the same period in 2013. The country produced 154.5 tonnes of porous polyurethane plates and strips, which is 18.7 percent less than in Jan.-March, 2013.

3. Electricity

Around 5.98 billion kilowatt/hours electricity was generated in Azerbaijan in Jan.-March, 2014, which is by 4.1 percent more than in the same period of 2013, the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee said.

Some 5.73 billion kilowatt/hours of the total volume of generated electricity fell to the share of thermo power plants (TPP) in Jan.-March, 2014 which is by 4.7 percent more than in the same period of 2013.

The hydro power plants (HPP) of Azerbaijan generated around 247.6 million kilowatt/hours of marketable electricity in Jan.-March, which is by 8.6 percent less than in the same period of 2013.

Azerbaijan produced approximately 20.63 billion kilowatt / hours of marketable electricity in 2013, which is 0.6 percent more than in 2012. Around 19.26 billion kilowatt / hours of the total volume of electricity generated in 2013 fell to the share of thermal power plants or by 2.7 percent more than in 2012. The Azerbaijani hydroelectric power plants generated about 1.37 billion kilowatt / hours of electricity in 2013 which is by 21.7 percent less than in 2012.

Azerenergy company generates and distributes electricity in Azerbaijan.

There are more than 200 substations with a capacity of 500, 330, 220 and 110 kilovolt amperes, as well as eight hydropower plants and 13 thermal power plants on Azerenergy's balance sheet.

Azerbaijan's power generation capacity has increased by 30 percent in the past five years. Currently, the index hits 7,105 megawatts, which allows generating annually about 24 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. This means that it is possible to annually export 2.1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity.

The Azerbaijani government plans to create hybrid power plants in most regions of the country by 2020. At the initial stage, the capacity of the power plants will be 15-20 megawatt, with the possibility of increasing to 45-50 megawatt.

The work on development of design estimates for creating hybrid thermal and power plants in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Nefchala, Oghuz, Gadabay and Balakan, were carried out throughout 2013.

Azerbaijan's solar energy potential is 5,000 megawatt. The wind energy potential in the country is 4,500 MW, biomass - 1,500 MW, geothermal energy - 800 MW, small hydro power plants - 350 MW.