The Russian gas giant’s export arm on Tuesday signed a short-term transit deal with Azerbaijani state energy firm SOCAR, both companies said. Azerbaijan’s pipeline will be needed as the link that currently ships Russian gas to Armenia via Georgia will close for three weeks of maintenance, Gazprom said by email.
Fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out again last September, with Azerbaijan regaining control of much of the territory. Russia mediated another cease-fire in early November, deploying almost 2,000 troops to maintain peace, and in January the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders agreed to work on restoring economic and transport links.
Under this week’s deal with Gazprom, SOCAR will receive gas from the Russian company and then deliver it to neighboring Georgia, from where the fuel will be exported south to Armenia.
Azerbaijan already sends its own gas to Georgia and to Turkey, having invested billions of dollars to develop its industry in the past decade.
