2024-07-24 20:46:16
The memorandum of understanding signed in Baku on Wednesday by SOCAR and the largest Slovenian gas supply company Geoplin is a framework document and, in fact, the first real step towards gas cooperation between Azerbaijan and Slovenia.
As reported by Day.Az, an informed source exclusively informed Trend about this.
“This document does not reflect specific volumes of gas, it is not binding on the parties. The parties agreed that if Azerbaijan has surplus gas, it will coordinate possible deliveries to Slovenia in a working order,” the source noted.
Slovenia’s domestic gas needs are less than 1 billion cubic meters per year and are almost entirely met by gas imports from various sources.
Geoplin covers approximately 50% of the needs of the retail gas market in Slovenia.
Slovenia has a network of main gas pipelines with a length of 1,121 km, providing gas imports from Italy, Austria and Algeria. The operator of the network is Plinovodi (a 100% subsidiary of Geoplin).
Earlier, in May 2024, Geoplin signed an addendum to a contract with the Algerian company Sonatrach for the supply of natural gas through Italy with possible growth.
“Azerbaijani gas can also go through Italy to Slovenia; a small increase in the capacity of the cross-border pipeline between Italy and Slovenia is needed, and the corresponding work can be completed within a year,” the source noted.
Slovenia expects that Azerbaijani gas could cover about 30% of its needs if Azerbaijan had free volumes.
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