OREANDA-NEWS. November 23, 2012.  On November 22, presentation of SOCAR development strategy was held at the House of Lords within the visit of SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev to the United Kingdom.

 The event took place in the historic Peers' Dining Room and brought together Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change John Hayes, about 50 MPs, including Lord Risby, Lord Patel, Lord Sheikh, Lord Dykes, Minister of State and Government Spokesperson, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Lord Howell, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to UK Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Ambassador of United Kingdom to Azerbaijan Peter Bateman, Ambassador of Turkey to United Kingdom Ahmet Unal Chevikoz, MPs of United Kingdom, SOCAR vice-president Rafiga Huseynzade, heads of SOCAR Investments and Marketing departments Vagif Aliyev and Adnan Ahmedzade, bp vice-president Bernard Looney, representatives of British political and business circles, as well as heads of leading think tanks of the European countries. Lord Sheikh Mohamed Iltaf and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change John Hayes welcomed the guests. Lord Sheikh briefed on his recent visit to Azerbaijan and his speeches during the debates about Azerbaijan in the British Parliament. He called SOCAR “the main factor of energy stability in the region and key partner in energy security of Europe”. John Hayes exchanged views on recent changes in the world oil and gas market and the role of the Caspian region in this regard. He expressed pride in the British investment in Azerbaijani economy.

 In his speech, SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev gave detailed information about the company’s operations carried out within the large-scale global and regional oil and gas projects and its achievements. Mr. Abdullayev spoke about Azerbaijan’s position as one of the main oil and gas producing countries in the world economy, its role in European energy security, SOCAR’s activities in this direction, projects to be carried out for diversification of gas resources and transportation routes, as well as Trans- Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP). Rovnag Abdullayev’s speech caused great interest of the attendees. Afterwards, he responded the questions of event participants.

 Thanking the guests for their participation in the event Lord Risby emphasized that Azerbaijan could secure political and economic stability in the geopolitically complicated region.


 On November 22, SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev gave interview to BBC Azeri service and The Wall Street Journal’s Dow Jones International. He informed the journalists about the ratification of TANAP agreement by Azerbaijan’s Milli Mejlis and spoke in details about the country’s energy policy and new oil strategy founded by National leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and successfully developed under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.