Ukraine Offered Azerbaijan Access to Oil Pipelines

Ukrainian Prime Minister Victor Yanukovich offered Azerbaijan access to the Ukrainian oil pipelines leading to Europe.

"Ukraine is interested in organization of light Caspian oil via the Baku-Supsa-Odessa-Europe route and participation of Azeri companies in the project," Yanukovich said at a meeting with Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Artur Rasizade. For his part Ukrainian Minister of Fuel and Energy Yuri Boyko explained that Azerbaijan annually intensifies oil output with 6-7 million tons and needs extra ways of transportation. He backed Azerbaijan's participation in the joint venture that will own the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline.

Yanukovich said Ukraine is capable to ensure the oil quality. Presently the state earns some $300 million per year on oil swap. With Azerbaijan, the sum can increase with $50 million. In early December 2006 Azeri President Ilham Aliyev stated that the government is due to consider the reduction of oil transit via Russia. Later the Prime Minister refuted the information and said Azerbaijan will follow the current schedule.

By PanARMENIAN.Net