Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Turkey has refused from commitment to increase the price for gas supplies from Shah Deniz field in Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

When delivering speech at the session of the Turkish Parliamentary Planning & Budget Commission (it discussed Turkey’s Draft State Budget 2010), Taner Yildiz, the minister for energy & natural resources of Turkey, claimed that in negotiations with their Azerbaijani counterparts Turkey was discussing the issue of purchase of Azeri natural gas at the price to be lower compared to world prices.

“We did not buy gas at low prices. As a whole, natural gas at low prices was bought by us for last 10 months,” the minister lamented.

He said that the agreement signed in 2001 stipulates purchase of natural gas at the price of $120 per 1,000 cu m. Azerbaijan started Shah Deniz gas supplies for Turkey since July 2007 and in April 2008 there appeared the necessity to re-consider prices for purchase of gas, as volume of supplies exceeded 1 bn cu m that demands price increase in accord with the agreement.

“I cannot agree on overstating of prices envisaged by the contract although by one dollar. I will take into account both expenditures of our country and fixing of the price based on justice. Since April 2008 we have conducted 13 meetings. We are working over the amount we should pay to Azerbaijan for gas. The difference in the amount is $600 - $900 million,” Mr. Taner said.

Azerbaijan, believing to Turkey’s statements about readiness to pay gas at the new price when it is coordinated did not halt gas supplies for any second. At the same time the Turkish government recognizes justice of the price of $120 that is 2-2.5 fold less than the price at which Russia supplies gas to Turkey.

Nevertheless, Turkish ruling party AKP fails in readiness to be fair in the price for Azeri gas supplies.

17.11.2009 12:41