This year Azerbaijani sources quit releasing information about gas deliveries of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to Russia. Russian gas monopolist Gasprom did not release this information either, though previously this kind of information was provided in the quarterly reports.
Gasprom company does not meet its commitments to buy 3 billion cub.m. of gas from SOCAR this year stipulated by the contract.
According to the Dispatcher Department of Fuel Energy Industry from January to February 2012 a total of 211 million cub.m. of gas was imported from Azerbaijan to Russia. In March 2012 Azerbaijani gas import totaled only 70 million cub.m., because of two-day repair works on the Hajigabul-Mozdok gas pipeline. In April 2012 gas import totaled 150 million cub.m., while in May it dropped to 135 million cub.m. During summer Gasprom bought only 550 million cub.m. of gas from Azerbaijan.
According to SOCAR, by September 25, 2012 gas deliveries to Russia increased up to 4.6 million cub.m. a day. Before that Gasprom received 4 million cub.m. of gas from SOCAR.
One can draw a conclusion that by present Gasprom has bought slightly over 1 billion cub.m. of Azerbaijani gas.
Judging by all, in October 2012 Azerbaijani gas deliveries to Russia will total 150-160 million cub.m., while in November-December they will reach about 200 million cub.m. As a result, during 2012 Russia will buy 1.55-16 billion cub.m. of gas from Azerbaijan, which is twice less, than SOCAR and Gasprom agreed in January 2012.
However, SOCAR and Gasprom have concluded a soft commercial agreement, it has no strict conditions and obligations.
Russia started importing Azerbaijani gas since 2020, but since last year it stopped meeting its contract obligations. Gasprom signed a contract to buy 2 billion cub.m. of Azerbaijani gas in 2011, but it actually bought 1.48 billion cub.m. Azerbaijani oil export via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline has declined for objective reasons - SOCAR's production has declined as well. However, situation with gas is different - for two years running Azerbaijan is forced to extract less gas, because they are no buyers in the neighboring countries and in the region.-0-
Economics
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