Azerbaijan running out of strategic fuel reserves

Source: BBC Monitoring Central Asia Publication date: Feb 23, 2000

Fuel oil supplies in Azerbaijan are now so low that there will be nothing left in the event of a war or natural disaster,according to a report in the Azerbaijani newspaper 'Zerkalo' on 22nd February. Azerenerzhi (Azerbaijani energy) has denied rumours that there will be further restrictions to the already limited power supply to domestic consumers, but fuel delivery statistics show that the situation is very serious, the paper said.

Meanwhile, diesel fuel is being delivered to Ukraine. Azerbaijani consumers are suffering damage to their domestic appliances due to sudden drops in voltage, and the paper said that it is possible for them to apply to court for compensation. Their suits will remain valid for three years if electricity suppliers have trouble paying.

The following is the text of the report in 'Zerkalo' by N. Mammadov and F. Alizade entitled "Fueloil reserves in Azerbaijan have run dry"

[Subhead] Lawyers and defenders of consumer rights advise owners of domestic appliances damaged due to the drops in voltage to demand compensation in court

It is impossible at the moment to increase fuel oil deliveries to the thermal power stations of Azerenezhi [Azerbaijani energy]from domestic reserves. According to Trend news agency, which quotes Azerenerzhi, there is only one way out of the situation -to toughen restrictions in the power supply to consumers.

According to Trend, new restrictions proposed by energy workerson 18th February to supply to Baku only 100-150 mV of power from1300 [0900 gmt] till 1700 [1300 gmt] local time are now being agreed with the Baku authorities and the Cabinet of Ministers.

The same Trend news agency thinks that the energy restrictions during the day and night imposed by Azerenerzhi will probably affect also morning and evening time, as in order to provide thepeak load of 3,500 mV in the country, it is necessary to use the full capacity of stations, which seems to be impossible today.

Azerenerzhi's fuel oil reserve has fallen to 17,000 t. On 20thFebruary 10,000 t of fuel oil was received from SOCAR [State OilCompany of the Azerbaijani Republic], and the same volume is expected on 21st February. Over the past two days gas wasdelivered according to the schedule - 4.2m cubic metres. [Subhead] "Cock and bull story"

The head of the Azerenerzhi press service, Aybeniz Akhmedova, inan interview to 'Zerkalo' denied reports about one more restriction in the power supply, saying that all this was a"cock and bull story": "There are no new restrictions in thepower supply in Baku and Azerenerzhi will not initiate this process." Indeed, despite the fuel shortage, Azerenerzhi managed to restart operations at Severnaya thermal power station (one energy block with a capacity of 80 mV) in the evening of 18thFebruary. However, in spite of this, the problem of fuel shortage at thermal power stations in Azerbaijan has not been resolved yet.

Asked to what extent new restrictions in power consumption were likely in future, Akhmedova gave a comparison as an example: "If you remember, restrictions were imposed before as well - butwhat has changed? All the same, many streets in Baku are brightly illuminated at night."

Today consumers' reproaches are pouring out on Azerenerzhi, but obviously this structure directly depends on the work of, or rather, on the fuel oil deliveries of SOCAR. President HeydarAliyev has more than once called on his namesake, head of SOCARNatig Aliyev, to treat the issue of fuel oil deliveries forAzerenerzhi more seriously. Meanwhile, for the time being, the dynamics of the volumes of petroleum products delivered a tAzerenerzhi's disposal shows that, in fact, fuel oil reserves inthe country are tending to fall and even to disappear completely. How can Azerenerzhi provide the country with electricity, when for normal work 17,000-18,000 t of fuel oil aday are necessary, and SOCAR has delivered only 10,000 t? There is also one more result to date. Strategic reserves of fuel oil in Azerbaijan, which are mainly designed to be used in the event of a war, catastrophe or natural disaster, have run dry. What could happen if tomorrow, God forbid, something like that occurs?

[Subhead] We shall die but save [Leonid] Kuchma [Ukrainianpresident]

Despite this, SOCAR is continuing to boldly supply diesel fuel to Ukraine. Mass supplies of diesel fuel amounting to 400,000 tto Ukraine are expected in late February to early March under the intergovernmental agreement on fuel supply for 2000 byAzerbaijan (Turan news agency). And all these supplies are made when the energy crisis in Azerbaijan itself is reaching a catastrophic level. Although, maybe, the people on the "political heights" know bestand "optimal periods to carry out agrarian work in spring in Ukraine and reducing tension in the Ukrainian domestic petroleum products market" are more important than houses with power cutsand TV sets and refrigerators burnt out due to the voltage drop sin Baku. Anyhow, under last year's agreement, Azerbaijan is due to supply a total of 500,000 t of diesel oil to Ukraine, of which 100,000 t were delivered in 1999.

By the way, what about TV sets, refrigerators and other damaged home appliances?

[Subhead] Whom should we sue?

Citizens who have incurred material damage as a result of thevoltage drop in power distribution lines can get compensation for the damage through legal proceedings.

As Bagir Asadov, a member of the Supreme Court collegium on civil issues, told Trend news agency, in the aforementioned cases citizens under Articles 442 and 467 of the Civil Code can apply to court with complaints. In the described cases, the respondents should be subdivisions of the Baku City ElectricityNetwork production association.

Asadov said that, of course, power cuts were caused by objective difficulties. However, the responsible organizations should provide stability of voltage during the period of power supply.

Asadov said that amounts of compensation should correspond tothe sum of the damage inflicted, if a court established that itwas indeed the fault of the electricity network services, notsome problems with electric wires in the house or a shortcircuit, that the appliances were damaged.

Asadov noted that the suit could be satisfied partially in the case of negligence by people themselves, who did not turn off electric appliances during voltage drops (?! - editor).Additional compensation to people for moral damage is not onoffer.

Asked about what one should do if the respondent refused to pay compensation due to insolvency,

Asadov said that court decisions were valid for three years. If the plaintiff does not decline his claim during this period, the validity of the energy workers' liabilities will be prolonged till they have fulfilled them.

For his part, Eyyub Huseynov, chairman of the Union of Free Consumers of Azerbaijan, said that voltage drops, which inflict damage on domestic appliances in a mass way, were the most flagrant violation of consumers' rights. He said that consumers repeatedly applied to the union with complaints. He said further that after appropriate examination they had managed to get compensation for people.

The Union of Free Consumers has already informed the people thateverybody who has suffered from voltage drops in power networks can apply to this public organization. On the basis of an application, a special programme will be worked out and implemented to restore the rights of the aforementioned category of people.

Publication date: Feb 23, 2000 ) 2000, NewsReal, Inc.

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-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 23, 2000

Answers

I don't get it! Azerbaijan is supposed to have the largest underground oil reserve in the world.

nancy

-- NH (new@mindspring.com), February 23, 2000.

Nancy, you're right on target....

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 23, 2000.

Great post Carl...thank you. =)

-- Dee (T1Colt556@aol.com), February 23, 2000.