Azerbaijan, Baku, April 24 / Trend E. Ismayilov /
Romania holds talks with the European Union to allocate funds to realize the project of Azerbaijani liquefied natural gas delivery through the Black Sea, SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev said.
"Now, Romania holds talks with the EU to attract funding to realize this project [Azerbaijani gas supply]. The possibility of financing from the EU's funds is being considered," Abdullayev said.
Abdullayev said that at present, preparation of feasibility study on this project is being considered.
Azerbaijan, Romania and Georgia have signed a memorandum "Cooperation in gas supplies" in Bucharest in mid-April.
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.
The memorandum on the implementation of this project was signed between Georgia and Romania in October 2009, Azerbaijan and Romania - in early 2010.
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.
The parties intend to prepare feasibility study for this project. Preparation of feasibility study will identify the most advantageous variant of gas export via the Black Sea.
Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy Natiq Aliyev said that the project of Azerbaijani liquefied natural gas supply via the Black Sea to Romania can be further expanded by including Bulgaria, Ukraine and Moldova.