Azeri Gas Output Rises 20%
Azerbaijan’s Q1 2020 sales gas output increased by 20% yr/yr to 7.25bn m³, thanks to growth at Shah Deniz 2, the state-owned producer Socar told NGW April 14. Exports rose by 12% to 3.537bn m3 of which 2.614bn m³ went to Turkey or beyond, which was 15.45% more than Q1 2019. The rest was supplied to Georgia, apart from 110mn m3 which was swapped with Iran.
Domestic demand also rose 7% to 4.137bn m³, to meet residential and petrochemical demand growth. A part of this volume was supplied by Socar; 1.7bn m³ came also from underground gas storage facilities, but the state company also purchased 1.74bn m3 from the BP-led Shah Deniz consortium.
The country has begun operations at two petrochemical plants in recent years. It exported 93,562 metric tons of methanol and nearly 43,000 mt of urea during Q1.
The country’s gross gas output (including re-injection) stood at about 10bn m3 in Q1, 10% more than 1Q2019, of which 47% came from Shah Deniz, 35.5% from the BP-led Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli oil block, and the rest from Socar’s own fields. ACG delivered 721mn m3 associated gas to Socar over the period, 44% more yr/yr, for which it was not paid.