Azerbaijan, Baku, Apr. 6 / Trend , E.Ismayilov/
Realization of special programs to reduce additional costs as part of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) anti-crisis program will enable to avoid reducing company's environmental programs, SOCAR Vice-President for Environment Mukhtar Babayev said.
SOCAR's anti-crisis program was approved on Feb. 26, 2009, in connection with the global financial and economic crisis.
"Programs are being developed to reduce additional costs. I believe that if we successfully implement these programs, we will not have to reduce environmental projects. And they [environmental projects] will continue," Babayev said.
The SOCAR environmental projects include not only cleansing polluted land, but also reducing emissions to air, water and land. "This is the main area over which we work," he said.
The anti-crisis program is aimed at providing economic work and preventing squandering, directing major funds to production, maintaining production and transportation of oil and gas at a high level, Babayev said earlier. "The anti-crisis program also includes reducing costs, thrift in production, particularly in the use of materials," he added.
Earlier SOCAR held a meeting on implementation of the anti-crisis program.
Main measures of the SOCAR anti-crisis program are maximal reducing company's expenditures in main activity areas, particularly in non-production sphere, improving governance, carrying out structural changes to optimize expenditures, bringing the number of company's and organizations' staff in line with requirements, SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev said at a meeting on realization of anti-crisis program.
Azerbaijan is ranked among the countries with a minimal effect of the global financial crisis. But in the context of globalization, market economy and SOCAR's strong international relationships, a triple decline in oil prices has led to a corresponding decrease in company's revenues, said SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev.
There are 57 oil and gas fields in Azerbaijan, with 18 offshore. The SOCAR staff tops 62,000 people.
