Russia's purchases of gas from Azerbaijan have been flat because of low demand for gas in Russia's export markets, according to Energy Ministry materials.
“Deliveries of Azerbaijani gas in 2012 were targeted at 3 billion cubic meters but as of the end of the year Russia did not take that much. The shortfall is due to the objective decline in demand for gas from Azerbaijan,” Deputy Energy Ministry Pavel Fyodorov said in a note to Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich in January.
All of the gas Gazprom buys from Azerbaijan is exported, according to industry statistics.
Azerbaijani gas is delivered to Russia on the 240-km Hajigabul-Mozdok pipeline, which has capacity for 7 bcm a year.
The Russian ambassador said previously that State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) and Gazprom were expected to sign an agreement on 2013 gas deliveries in February.
