Azerbaijan, Baku, 5 May /corr. Trend S.Agayeva / Switzerland is willing to purchase Azerbaijani gas. The President of the Swiss Confederation, Pascal Kushpen, intends to hold talks with the leadership of Azerbaijan on this topic during his forthcoming visit to Baku on 10-13 May, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Switzerland, Elchin Amirbeyov, reported to Trend on 5 May.
The Ambassador said that Switzerland is considering several options of diversifying energy resources to ensure its energy security. One of these ways is the project of Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) which goes from Greece to Italy via the territory of Albania. The Government is willing to purchase gas from the Middle Asia and Caspian region and transport it to Switzerland via Turkey, Albania and other countries.
Swiss company EGL and Norwegian StatoilHydro will jointly develop, construct and own the pipeline on a parity basis. The construction of the gas pipeline is expected to begin in the second half of 2009. The first gas via this pipeline is expected to be transported in 2012. The carrying capacity of TAP is 10bln cu.m per year with a possible expansion of up to 20bln cu.m.
The Government of Switzerland has already held talks with Iran on the purchase of gas and also intends to discuss this issue with Azerbaijan.
Earlier this issue was raised during the meeting of the Presidents of the two countries during their participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2008 and during the Swiss Energy Minister's visit to Azerbaijan. " Switzerland has highlighted its interest to purchase Azerbaijani gas and the details of the issue will be discussed during President Kushpen's visit to Baku," the Ambassador said.
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