Gazprom Cuts Oil Supplies to Azerbaijan

Russian gas giant Gazprom has confirmed its intention to cut gas supplies to Azerbaijan from 4.5 to 1.5bn cubic meters in 2007, official spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said.

He added that the volume projected will meet Azerbaijan's demand for imported gas, considering higher prices for Russian gas and increased production within the republic.

As reported earlier, Azerbaijan's oil firm SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev announced yesterday that Azerbaijan was willing to buy more gas from the Shah Deniz field, claiming all supplies meant for Turkey which cannot accept them yet. He added that gas coming to Azerbaijan from the Shah Deniz field would strengthen Azerbaijan's position before the talks with Gazprom.