Uniper keen to increase gas purchases from Azerbaijan

The German company Uniper is interested in buying additional gas from Azerbaijan, with the potential to double the current 1.5 billion cubic meters, Rashad Huseynli, head of Uniper’s Azerbaijan representative office, told Report.

“Negotiations with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) are ongoing. We would like to buy additional gas, but I cannot reveal the details as the discussion process is ongoing. The volume will depend on SOCAR’s capabilities, Azerbaijan’s export infrastructure, and field capacities. The main issue is related to infrastructure and its expansion. SOCAR especially needs the support of the European Union,” Huseynli stated.

He noted that European financial structures are focused on the “green agenda” and do not consider financing carbon projects prestigious. However, Uniper intends to increase gas purchases from Azerbaijan and is ready to buy if the volumes are available.

Huseynli emphasized that Europe’s demand for gas is very large. “Currently, we are buying 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas [within the second phase of development of the Shah Deniz field], and we can double the current volume. Uniper is interested in the gas market of Azerbaijan and the Caspian region as a whole,” he added.