Azerbaijan managed to gain a rightful place among the world countries owing to rapid development rate that has been observed in recent years and is moving to a new development stage. Namely for this reason the republic, which has chosen a dynamic development path, is undertaking, regardless of big achievements in all the economic areas, new steps and implementing new projects to gain grandiose success. All of it puts serious commitments on SOCAR’s (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic) Azerigaz PU in line with other structures. 

The speech President Ilham Aliyev delivered in February 2014 at the conference dedicated to implementation of programs on social-economic development of regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan assigns certain tasks to Azerigaz PU: “Large-scale work on provision of gas supply has been carried out over the past 10 years. It is both a social and economic issue since people have to consume more electricity in areas where no gas is supplied. From the economic standpoint it is very unprofitable for them since it also leads to growth in electricity demand. In this case, the preference was certainly given to projects on provision of gas supply. All cities and the majority of villages of our country have so far been supplied with gas. In general, gas supply in Azerbaijan covers almost 90%.  In coming 5 years provision of gas supply must be raised up to 95-96%”. 

We perfectly understand that these words reflect not only the operations already performed by SOCAR Azerigaz PU but also set new tasks to us. Implementing successfully the “State program of social-economic development of regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2009-2013” approved by Azerbaijan President’s order dated April 14, 2009 and “State program of social-economic development of Baku and its settlements for 2011-2013” approved by Azerbaijan President’s order #1490 dated May 4, 2011, Azerigaz PU sets new tasks, arising from the orders of the President, and is preparing for gaining more important achievements in upcoming years. In this context I would like to note that the progress we have made so far is the result of big attention that the head of state pays to the issues concerning provision of gas supply. Confirmation of this attention and care of the head of the state toward operations on provision of gas supply was reflected in the speech that President of SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev delivered at the above mentioned conference: “Only 49 towns, regional centers, villages and settlements located around these regional centers were supplied with gas in 2004. The rate of provision of gas supply totaled 39.8% then. Provision of gas supply has been completed in all the regional centers of the republic as well as in 663 settlements and villages where gas was not supplied even in the Soviet period. The rate of provision of gas supply reached 89.8% in 2013, including Baku (up to 99%) and regions (83.4%). The number of real subscribers among the population was lower than 700,000 people in 2004. Now this indicator exceeds 1 mln 600,000 people. Over 4800km long main gas pipelines and different diameter lines with the length of over 25,000km were constructed for this purpose. Besides, pipelines with the length of about 8,000km underwent capital repair. 18 new gas distribution stations and 41 gas distribution units underwent reconstruction. Measuring points, equipped with the most advanced technologies, were repaired within the framework of projects on provision of gas supply”. 

As of April 1, 2014, the number of subscribers totaled 1 mln 686 thousand people. Azerigaz PU is committed to meet all obligations arising from the requirements of the “State program of social-economic development of the regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2014-2018” and the “State program of social-economic development of the Baku city and its settlements for 2014-2016”. Therefore, the production union will make all efforts for having this task done. 

The main goal is to improve the level of provision of gas supply, expand the capacity of networks, and become a structure meeting requirements of international standards and securing uninterrupted, qualitative and safe gas supply to consumers. 

Regarding the present tasks, I would like to note that in 2014 the production union commenced new operations which differ in content and quality. Serious measures were taken in order to secure uninterrupted and qualitative gas supply to consumers and reduce gas losses. 

A total of 1,071,216,505 cubic meters of natural gas was sold to the population in the first quarter of this year. The collection of funds gained from gas sale totaled 92.44% within the abovementioned period. 

Applications of legal and physical entities were considered within the first quarter of this year. As a result, gas supply to 45 multi-storey block of flats was commenced in accordance with submitted documents. In general, these activities cover 5,565 apartments. 

Provision of services aimed at growth of satisfaction of clients has been commenced starting from 2014. As is known, since February 2014 the subscribers have been provided with services in the Baku center “ASAN Xidmət” #1 of the State Agency for services to citizens and social innovations under President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.  5 types of services are provided to all citizens in this center regardless of their residence places:

1) Restoration of lost smart card;

2) Provision of limits registered and approved by local gas departments to internally displaced people;

3) Printing a balance document and provision of debt-related information;

4) Making changes in personal data base of subscribers using smart cards;

5) Provision of information about use of smart cards.

The service of printing a balance document and provision of debt-related information can be used by all consumers, both those who use smart cards and those with mechanical gauges. In the near future the range of these services will be expanded even more and finally they will be provided at ASAN Xidmət centres #2, 3 and 4 in Baku and then in Ganja and Sumgayit. The services currently provided will include some additional services:

1) Provision of new smart cards in connection with substitution of mechanical gauges with new smart gauges;

2) Provision of new smart cards in connection with substitution of smart gauges with similar types of gauges;

3) Provision of smart cards for gauges installed as a result of new gasification;

4) Eliminating the error occurred during payment made through any payment system irrespectively of its reason. 

The continuously expanding range of services at ASAN Xidmət centers along with introduction of new services will terminate provision of such services by gas departments in Baku. All these activities are aimed at strengthening the relations between Azerigaz PU with consumers and also improving the quality of provided services. Azerigaz PU is to open an independently operating customer service office in Baku and this is to become one more step in this direction.

One of the important news is provision of free gas to all mosques, churches and other houses of warship belonging to different religious confessions. Following the instruction of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the decision #63 of the SOCAR Board dated December 30, 2013, free supply of gas shall be provided to all mosques and other religious confessions within the annual limited volume. Though in 2013 the average annual gas consumption in churches and sites of pilgrimage made 1,953 cubic metres, the current decision was to set the annual limit of gas for these purposes in the volume of 5,000 cubic metres. In the future, the set limit will be provided to all Islamic mosques and other religious institutions as soon as they draw up estimate documents, construct gas lines, install gas meters and provide the corresponding approved documents about the registration. 

Also, I would like to highlight that according to the data on the non-residential sector as of April 1, 2014 free supply of gas was provided to 190 mosques and churches.

One of the innovations of the current year concerns carrying out a technical inspection. Sometimes the workers of Azerigaz PU are not allowed into flats during technical inspections. As a result, even insignificant leaks in apartments can lead to unpleasant incidents. Taking into account the importance of technical inspection of indoor lines, Azerigaz PU made the decision to establish a centralized operational agency to carry out such inspections in Baku. We are sure that work we perform will even more strengthen our relations with consumers and help improve the quality of services from Azerigaz PU. For this purpose we will do our best, and in the future stay committed to properly implementing the objectives set for us.