Azerbaijan should pump gas to Georgia in crisis only, Azeri Energy Minister says

Natig Aliyev told reporters that Georgia wants to prolong the current gas delivery agreement until this year's end, APA reports.

"Within the scope of his visit, Mr Nika Gilauri will have discussion about the amount of Shah Deniz gas Georgia can get and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline. The main issue for us is operation of this pipeline. We will deliberate upon security, some technical issues and the amount of Georgia’s quota from Shah Deniz Field," he said.

He added that Azerbaijan will give priority to its own demand for national gas while Georgia seeks to get more Azeri gas.

"The agreement, we have with Georgia, is expiring in April. We are supplying Georgia with associated gas coming from Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli Field. The gas exports were planned for winter, was aimed to bail Georgia out of energy crisis. I think we should help Georgia when it sees a crisis. But, Azerbaijan should think about itself now too. The more we pump to Georgia, the less we will have for our needs," he underscored.