Baku may host tripartite ministerial meeting on Azerbaijan-Turkey-Italy gas export

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Industry and Energy has today hosted Italia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfredo Mantica.

Azeri Ministry said in a statement that views were exchanged on several issues of mutual concern and ways of cooperation.

Italian firm Edison’s presence in Azerbaijan was hailed as successful at the meeting.
Natig Aliyev said his country will continue to support Italian companies’ participation in oil and gas projects.

According to him, Azerbaijan plans to produce 24 billion cubic meters of gas including 9 billion cubic meters from Shah Deniz in 2009.
In his words, Azerbaijan intends to pump natural gas from Shah Deniz Phase 2 to Europe, especially Greece and Italy and is negotiating with Turkey for the transit of gas.
Alfredo Mantica underscored his country’s intention to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan, saying his country is also in talks with the Government of Turkey on the project and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sent a letter to his Turkish counterpart.
Alfredo Mantica put forward the idea of holding a trilateral meeting of prime ministers in Baku to guide the successful completion of negotiations on the transit of natural gas.