Azerbaijan increases gas storage following Turkey pipeline attacks
16 October 2012
An Azerbaijan energy company said more natural gas was injected into underground storage tanks in response to pipeline disruptions in nearby Turkey. A source in the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic told the region's Trend news service that more gas from the Shah Deniz natural gas field in the Caspian Sea was sent to underground storage sites in the country.
A rig on Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field in the Caspian Sea
Turkish officials this week blamed militants for an attack on the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline. Ankara said it wouldn't take on more gas from other suppliers because there was no shortage, though Azeri gas deliveries through the pipeline were halted.
"All the available technical equipment in both underground storage facilities have been used to ensure pumping of increasing volumes from the Shah Deniz gas," the source was quoted as saying.
Turkey has a contract with Azerbaijan to receive 230 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year from the Shah Deniz gas field. Baku said more than 490 million cubic feet was sent to underground storage sites.
The pipeline was last targeted by insurgents in May.