SOCAR plans potential Uzbek diesel transit through Kulevi

Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR) is considering exporting diesel fuel produced in Uzbekistan to global markets via its terminal at the Black Sea port of Kulevi in Georgia, Toghrul Kocharli, head of SOCAR’s Global Business Development Department, told local media.

“SOCAR Trading is currently shipping naphtha from Uzbekistan and delivering it to Black Sea ports. The product under consideration is diesel. We are talking about diesel fuel produced in Uzbekistan. If we reach an agreement, it will also be exported through our terminal in Kulevi,” Kocharli said.

He noted that, unlike Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, which have long-standing partnerships with Azerbaijan in the transit and export of their petroleum products to international markets, cooperation with Uzbekistan in this area began only this year.

“In fact, the foundation for joint work was laid much earlier within the framework of the three-year ‘Turan’ energy project established between the parties. However, its practical implementation and active operational activities started specifically this year,” Kocharli added.

By Vafa Guliyeva