Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 27 / Trend E.Ismayilov /
The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), and Turkish state pipeline company Botas, discussed the prospects of the transit of Azerbaijani gas to Syria via Turkey, SOCAR President, Rovnag Abdullayev said.
Azerbaijan and Syria signed a Memorandum of Understanding "on the supply of one billion cubic meters of gas per year".
"Currently, work on the project is underway, which will continue in 2011," Abdullayev announced.
He noted specifically that SOCAR plans to come to agreements with Botas on the specifications and cost of transporting Azerbaijani gas via Turkey to Syria.
"As a result of work on this project gas production in Azerbaijani could increase up to 2 billion cubic meters between 2012 and 2015," Abdullayev pointed out.
BP records show that gas production in Syria amounted to 5.8 billion cubic meters in 2009, which is 6.2 percent more than in 2008.
According to The Oil and Gas Journal, as of Jan.1, the country's proven gas reserves are estimated at 243 billion cubic meters.
In 2008, according to the U.S. State Energy Information Administration (EIA), Syria's gas imports totaled 143 million cubic meters, while consumption was at 6 billion cubic meters.
