The most attractive statement of the last week came from Natik Aliyev, the President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), who stated on possible refusal from the purchase of gas from Gasexport Ltd, a daughter company of Gasprom, in case of further increase of prices of blue fuel by the supplier.
At present Gasprom, an only producer and exporter of natural gas in Russia, is considering the variants of increase of process of natural gas, delivered to CIS countries, which acquire it cheaper than European countries. Aliyev said that Russia sells gas to different CIS countries at $140-160 per 1000 cu m. “If they offer us them same price, we will refuse from purchase of gas. We cannot buy natural gas at such prices," the SOCAR said, adding that the Azerbaijani government has not received appeals on increase of prices of import gas.
Azerbaijan has been acquiring gas from Gasexport since 2000. In January to October 2005 the country has received 3.78 billion cu of gas. This year the SOCAR plans to purchase some 4.5 billion cu m of gas from Gasexport. Earlier, we imported at the price of $52 per 1000 cu m. Last year he leadership of Gasprom announced on increase of prices to $60 per 1000 cu m. The Azerbaijani government maintained contract in force. Now it is dealt with doubled rise of the gas price.
The leadership of Gasprom motivated its steps with an intention of adjusting the prices to world standards.