Offshore staff

TEHRAN -- Iran has offered to buy the entire gas volumes produced from the Shah Deniz field in the Caspian Sea offshore Azerbaijan.

Azeri energy minister Natig Aliyev revealed the proposal, according to Iran’s Petroenergy Information Network, Shana.

“There are a lot of proposals on the purchase of gas from the Shah Deniz deposit,” Aliyev said. “However, Azerbaijan, being in favour of diversification, will not consider just one option.”

Reza Hosseini, National Iranian Gas Co’s planning director, said that Azeri gas could reach export markets such as Turkey via Iran.

Aliyev confirmed that Azerbaijan’s state oil company Socar was in talks with Gazprom over its recent offer to buy supplies from Shah Deniz. “However, this is a lengthy process as it involves long-term rather than short-lived co-operation.”

06/08/2009