JAMESTOWN FOUNDATION PUBLISHES ARTICLE ABOUT AZERBAIJAN
Washington, D.C.-based think tank Jamestown Foundation May 13 published an article entitled “Azerbaijan joins the Middle East”.
The article says Azerbaijan`s massive hydrocarbon resources have begun to attract the attention of an increasing number of energy-poor nations in the Middle East, including Israel and Jordan.
National Infrastructure Minister of Israel Benjamin Ben Eliezer said his country has recently attempted to increase its number of natural gas suppliers. Ben Eliezer told a conference in Tel Aviv that his Ministry had discussed possible future supplies of natural gas to Israel with the energy companies BP and Gazprom as well as with Caspian producers Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Azerbaijan produces gas from its Caspian offshore Shahdeniz field, the country`s largest natural gas field, which is operated by BP. Shah Deniz holds an estimated 1.5 to 3 billion barrels of oil, and 50 to 100 billion cubic meters of gas. The United States is optimistic about Azerbaijan`s natural gas future. The US Energy Information Agency writes, “With the addition of the Shahdeniz natural gas and condensate field and the South Caucasus Pipeline, Azerbaijan will become a large natural gas provider to Turkey and to Europe in the upcoming decade”.
While Israel might be interested in possible imports of Azeri natural gas, the fact remains that there are only two ways of transporting it, pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers. LNG ports and tankers are extremely expensive, while any pipeline extending from Erzurum to Israel would either have to extend from southeastern Turkey under the Mediterranean parallel to the Lebanese coast or traverse Syria.
Another Middle East country which is interested in Azerbaijan`s energy resources is Jordan. During his visit to Baku King of Jordan Abdullah II held extensive discussions with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and signed a number of bilateral documents. He also attended the opening of Azerbaijan`s Second Jordanian exhibition and the Azerbaijan-Jordan Business Forum.
Experts say with its successful energy policy Azerbaijan would gain valuable additional diplomatic support from the Middle East countries for resolving its conflict with Armenia.
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