ECONOMY
SOCAR official: It’s impossible to reduce sale price of gas to be bought from Azerbaijan within TAP
Baku, February 16, AZERTAC
“It’s impossible to reduce sale price of gas which Greece will buy from Azerbaijan within TAP”, the vice-president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan on investments and marketing Elshad Nasirov told journalists.
“It does not meet requirement of international practice. A contract was signed with Greece for 25 years. According to contract, there are provisions about possibility of negotiations regarding change of purchase and sale price of gas. This can happen when sharp changes are observed in the market. However, this can be after gas supply. As Greek side does not buy gas yet, any price change is out of question”, Nasirov said.
The Vice-President noted that the reduction of gas price does not depend on Greece, Azerbaijan and SOCAR: “The price contract has been signed by Greece and a consortium including 7 companies to supply Greece with gas. Related mechanism has been prepared by Greek side and a group to supply gas and conduct negotiations. This group stopped operation after signing contract. Therefore, there are no sides to conduct negotiations on reduction of gas price”.
Nasirov also clarified the claim put forward by Greek side on increase of transit fees of Azerbaijani gas to be transported within TAP. He noted that this is an issue to be directly addressed to the European Union, but does not meet EU conditions.
He said that in exchange for all of these conditions, SOCAR demands Greek side to do payments timely and not to delay construction of the pipeline.
Nasirov says SOCAR is regularly contacting with the new Greek government: “If Greek economy will develop with more intensive temps than TAP existence, we are ready to provide any support to this project”.