AZERBAIJAN PAYING A HIGH PRICE FOR REFUSING FROM RUSSIAN GAS. RETURN TO MAZUT BLACK OIL
By A. Haritiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
10/01/2007

In Azerbaijan the prices for fuel, electricity, water and gas has
considerably grown in the past few days.

For example, gasoline prices have grown about 50% coming to 50-60
cents. This situation is most probably caused by Azerbaijan’s refusal
of Russian Gas.

ITAR-TASS informs that the Azerbaijani side has stopped
Baku-Novorosiysk oil transfer. The Azeri authorities plan to process
the oil, previously transferred to Russia, to mazut, and use it as
fuel instead of Russian gas.

According to experts, this decision may cause global growth in prices
for various goods and services in Azerbaijan. On the other hand such
a decision may make one think that Azeri authorities are confident
of the potential and the economical growth of the country.

In context with this issue the question of Azerbaijan’s gas supply
to Turkey and Georgia, as the agreements about the Shah-Deniz deposit
can become inconsistent at present.