MP: New gas field in Azerbaijan to promote relations with Turkey to new level

Cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan in the energy sector will get to a new stage of development after the discovery of new Absheron gas field, Turkish MP from the ruling Justice and Development Party, Mustafa Kabakci, said.

"Azerbaijan and Turkey already make successful cooperation in the energy sector. With the discovery of new gas field in Azerbaijan, this cooperation would be further strengthened," Kabakci, who is also chairman of the Turkey-Azerbaijan friendship group, told Trend by telephone from Ankara.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev briefed about discovery of large gas reserves on the Absheron field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea on Friday.

According to Total, which is one of the participants of the contract on exploration and development of the "Absheron" field, gas reserves at the field are estimated at several trillion cubic feet of gas and condensate according to initial assessments.

Kabakci said strengthening cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan will contribute to stability in the region. Azerbaijan's success in the energy sector makes Turkey glad, since the strengthening of Baku in the region serves the interests of Ankara.

Today, Turkey is buying natural gas from Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field. Under the contract, Turkey must receive 6.6 billion cubic meters of gas from the first stage of the Shah Deniz field. Gas supplies to Turkey from the second stage of development of the field will be six billion cubic meters.

Participants in Absheron are SOCAR (40 percent), Total (40 percent) and Gaz De France Suez (20 percent).

The contract on the Absheron Field was signed on Feb. 27, 2009 between SOCAR and Total. Later Total sold 20 percent of its equity participation to Gaz De France Suez.

The first exploration well is being drilled from the Heydar Aliyev drilling rig, operated by the Danish Maersk Drilling Company.

The Absheron bloc is located about 100 kilometers from Baku at a depth of 500 meters.


/Trend/