An international conference called "European geopolitics of energy and the role of Azerbaijan" started in Baku yesterday as part of the 17th International Caspian Oil & Gas Exhibition and Incorporating Refining and Petrochemicals.
The event was opened by ITE Group PLC senior advisor Andrew Wood.
Azerbaijan's minister of industry and energy Natig Aliyev stressed the importance of the conference, expressed hope it would be "a success".
The minister highlighted Azerbaijan's economic progress, saying "it had continued growing despite global economic and financial crisis".
Aliyev spoke of the country's achievements in energy sector, noting the role of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines in delivering Azerbaijan's energy resources to Europe.
The minister raised awareness of the conference attendees about Azerbaijan-Turkey talks over "Shahdeniz-2" project and an agreement signed by Georgia, Romania and Azerbaijan. Aliyev said Azerbaijan was interested in realization of Nabucco project.
On Azerbaijan's gas potential, the minister pointed out Azerbaijan will export 7.8 billion cubic meter of gas through different routes this year. He said the country's gas production this year will make an estimated 8 billion cubic meters.
Aliyev also talked of Azerbaijan's contribution to Europe's energy security.
Special Envoy of the United States Secretary of State for Eurasian Energy Richard Morningstar said the United States supported developing new oil and gas fields. The Special Envoy noted his country backed ensuring Europe's energy security, saying the United States enjoy the "biggest" bilateral trade and investment relationship with Europe. Morningstar expressed the United States` interest in preserving the level of relationship. He pointed out that the US supports diversification of energy exports of the Caucasian and Central Asian countries, adding "we are ready to help them in finding new markets".
"The United States strongly supports new South corridor bringing natural gas of the Caspian region to Europe. This corridor embraces Nabucco, Italy-Turkey-Greece and probably, Trans-Adriatic gas pipelines. These projects will help diversification of gas resources and creating new supplying routes to Europe. South Corridor is commercially useful for the Caucasian and Central Asian countries. The United States welcomes achievements gained by Azerbaijan and Turkey in last negotiations over gas purchasing and transit. It assures us that South Corridor will become real."
European Commission's director of Energy Department for reliability of supplying Haynts Hilbrekht spoke about energy security strategy of European Union countries and Azerbaijan's role in this regard.
Chairman of board of Kazakhstan's KazMunayQaz Company Kairgeldi Kabildin highlighted successes of his country in oil and gas sector.
Turkish deputy minister of energy and natural resources Yusif Yazar stressed the significance of Nabucco project.
Georgian deputy minister of energy Mariam Valishvili praised Azerbaijan's contribution to energy security of Europe, and also stressed the importance of Georgia as a transit country.
President of Azerbaijan State Oil Company (SOCAR) Rovnag Abdullayev highlighted the importance of the Contract of the Century. Abdullayev said SOCAR had signed 31 agreements with foreign companies. He stated that 34 international energy companies from 15 countries had been involved in onshore and offshore operations in Azerbaijan. He said today 61 wells were "successfully" being developed in Azerbaijan.

AzerTAc