Azerbaijan has yet to resume supplies to Russia

Azerbaijan has not yet resumed gas shipments to Russia because of repair works, but says it is ready to fulfil its obligations, Azeri state energy company SOCAR's president said on Tuesday.

SOCAR's vice-president told Reuters last week that Azerbaijan had resumed supplies and planned to supply 1 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas to Russia this year.

"Gas supplies have not been resumed yet as we are still conducting repair works at the gas pipeline," Rovnag Abdullayev told reporters.

"It does not have any impact on our contract. According to the contract, we can carry out shipments any time."

Azerbaijan suspended shipments of gas to Russia from Jan. 13, citing maintenance work on a motorway between the Azeri capital Baku and the Russian border that lies adjacent to the pipeline.

Russian state-controlled gas company Gazprom could not immediately be reached for comment.

Before the suspension, Azeri gas supplies to Russia amounted to 3 million cubic metres a day, a small fraction of Russia's total gas consumption.

SOCAR Vice-President Elshad Nassirov, who told Reuters about the resumption of supplies a week ago, on Tuesday said that had not been fully aware of the situation.

"Supplies should have been restored by the time of our conversation, but there were some delays," he wrote to Reuters, answering a question by email.

Bakudaily.az