Europe has been seeking to increase the number of oil and gas transportation routes bypassing Russia, in particular after Moscow's disputes over pricing with transiting nations Belarus and Ukraine in the last two years, which disrupted Europe-bound deliveries.
"Europe obviously needs alternative natural gas transportation routes. Azerbaijan's gas reserves total up to 3 trillion cubic meters, so we can support the move to diversify the European system of gas imports if needed," SOCAR Vice President Elshad Nasirov said.
Azerbaijan is developing its giant Shah-Deniz field, with gas reserves of over 1 trillion cubic meters of gas, in a project led by Britain's BP and Norway's Statoil. The country wishes to become a major gas exporter to Europe and rival Russia's Gazprom, which meets a quarter of Europe's gas needs.
He said that diversifying delivery routes was a stabilizing factor for the European gas market and that the Caspian country was ready for talks on Europe's gas imports via the Azerbaijan-Europe route.
Nasirov said the commercial terms of the country's participation in such projects were the key factor.
He added that Asian participants in supplies from Azerbaijan to Europe would have certain advantages, such as access at market prices and without intermediaries, and opportunities for sharing transportation.
"Europe at the same time should build the necessary infrastructure and safeguard uninterrupted transit via every country the pipe will cross," the official said.
