After having signed an agreement with Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, there is no more need in importing gas from Iran, said Kakha Kaladze, Georgian deputy prime minister and energy minister.
He made the remarks at a joint press conference with SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, Georgia Online news website reported March 4.
Kaladze said Georgia started simultaneous talks with Iran due to technical problems regarding the natural gas supply from Azerbaijan.
“We had a meeting and talked about how it was possible to receive Iran’s gas,” Kaladze said. “Theoretically, there is an opportunity for that, but there is no such a need today. We have signed an agreement with a strategically partner country, a company, which will ensure the natural gas supply to Georgia and meet the market’s needs.”
Georgia and Azerbaijan’s SOCAR signed agreements March 4 in Tbilisi, under which the Azerbaijani side will increase natural gas supply to Georgia by 463 million cubic meters and reduce prices for the gas sold at social tariffs, as well as the commercially sold gas.