SOCAR could become the participant of the energy market of the Baltic region, said Lithuanian Energy Minister Yaroslav Neverovich in his interview to Baku-based Region Plus magazine.
“Azerbaijan’s energy enterprises have already become the players of the global market. They have made very serious investment decisions on the EU-TAP and TANAP pipelines. These serious strategic decisions show intentions of the Azerbaijani companies,” added the Minister.
Lithuanian Minister of Energy sais that TANAP and TAP projects envisages gas deliveries to the EU member-states are also important for Lithuania and the entire Baltic region.
“Lithuanian companies in charge of gas purchase should take advantage of this competitive possibility. It is not necessary to physically deliver gas to the Baltic countries, we have the so-called virtual swaps for that,” said Neverovich.
He said Lithuania and Azerbaijan have the possibilities for development of cooperation in field of liquefied gas (LNG) trade.
“We see an intention of Azerbaijani companies to develop LNG business. We think there are possibilities for cooperation here, but we must leave the negotiations for the companies. I have heard at the talks with the Azerbaijani government that SOCAR is going to become the world player in gas trade, including LNG and we see SOCAR as a player at the Baltic market,” Neverovich added.
Minister said that at present there are two oil terminals in Klaipeda port total annual capacity of which reaches about 12 million tons a year.
“This is a strategic place, where during the past three years the volume of shipment has significantly increased, owing to the investments into the port infrastructure. Capacity of the port has increased, especially in field of transshipment of cargoes from other countries, such as oil products, containers, po-po type vessels (river-river) and others. As the country, where oil and oil products is the most important driver of economy, Azerbaijan could be interested in the possibilities of Klaipeda port,” said Lithuanian Minister of Energy.
