OREANDA-NEWS. February 02, 2010. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has evaluated expenditures on upgrade of country’s gas supply system.

SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev says that domestic gas system upgrade up to the level of European standards will be carried out by two stages as minimum.

“Primary estimates that can be corrected by plus-minus 30-40%, show that with the level of gasification by 95% the upgrade will demand 3-4 bn manats.

In Baku alone the relevant program say of the necessity of laying 1,400 km of gas pipelines,” Abdullayev said.

The Company also strives to raise consumer service discipline.

“Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has set a challenge to switch fully charge for gas to smart cards (automatic regime of payment) for 1/5-2 years. For this all gas meters will be replaced to card gas prepayment meters,” Abdullayev said.

SOCAR has programs of activity for one, two and five years. The Company became the country’s single gas operator in July 2009 and runs gas supplying through its sub-company Azeriqaz.