Edison CEO sees Azerbaijan gas supply contracts signed by end-2007

In its 2007-2012 business plan, released yesterday evening, Edison said it plans to have gas supplies of 22 bln cubic metres a year by 2012, about 20 pct of the gas available to the Italian market.

On Azerbaijan, 'the discussions are advanced and the aim is to close the supply contract by the end of 2007', Quadrino said in the interview.

The newspaper said the Azerbaijan gas will be delivered via the 8 bln cubic metre capacity IGI pipeline that Edison is building with Greek and Turkish firms and due to start operating in 2010.

Quadrino also said he does not expect Italy to have the same problems with gas supplies this winter as it had last year, when Russian imports were cut, prompting government emergency measures.

'Compared to the same period of last year, we are a lot better. Then the stocks were already heavily drawn down,' he said, adding that he did not rule out emergency measures for this year. AFX

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