Romanian President: Memorandum on Azerbaijan gas supplies to Romania is important for EU

The Memorandum of Understanding signed between Romania, Azerbaijan and Georgia to implement the project AGRI (Azerbaijan Georgia Romania Interconnect), is an important and essential step both for the three countries, and for the entire European Union, Financiarul reported citing Romanian President Traian Basescu.

On Tuesday, Azerbaijan, Romania and Georgia have signed a memorandum on cooperation in gas supplies in Bucharest. The document was signed by Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy Natiq Aliyev, Minister of Economy, Romanian Commerce and Business Environment Adrian Videanu and Georgian Energy Minister Alexander Khetaguri. The project on supplies of liquefied Azerbaijani gas to Romania envisages the construction of two terminals for liquefied natural gas - one in Georgia, the other one in Romania. According to preliminary data, the project cost will amount to 4.6 billion euros.

On Tuesday, Romanian President received Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy Natiq Aliyev, Georgian Energy Minister Alexander Khetaguri at the palace Cotroceni. Romanian Minister of Economy, Trade and Business Environment Adrian Videanu, Georgian Ambassador to Romania Levan Metreveli and Azerbaijani ambassador to Bucharest Eldar Hasanov attended the meeting.

"The agreement is equally a very important step for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Romania, as well as for the European Union," Basescu said.

At present, the construction of the terminal processing Azerbaijani gas at Georgia's Black Sea coast (SOCAR owns the oil terminal in Kulevi) and its transportation by ships to Romania or Bulgaria for further shipment to domestic gas pipeline network of Europe are being disucssed. The project is being considered in two directions - LNG and CNG. First is the construction of gas liquefaction plant, and the second - delivery of gas directly to the ship for its compression. It deals with about 7-20 billion cubic meters of gas.

Balkans.com Business News reported that according to Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy Natiq Aliyev, signing of the agreement is a historic event. It represents the importance for development of trade and economic relations between Romania and Azerbaijan.

Videanu said that the CIS terminal project is an addition to the gas pipeline Nabucco, which aims to transport gas from the Caspian region and the Middle East to the EU countries. The Romanian side insists for the EU to give the project a priority status.


/Trend/