In 2003-2004, an increased number of senior Russian officials and major energy companies, such as Itera, Gazprom and RAO UES visited Baku in the hopes of participating in energy projects in Azerbaijan. While maintaining diplomatic relations with Moscow, Azerbaijan is more hesitant when it comes to close cooperation with Russian energy companies. Baku fears that if Russia gains more assets in Azerbaijan, control of these assets will be used for political purposes. This unique study looks at the confluence of Russian private and public sector interest Azerbaijan's energy sector. Part of the Russian Foreign Energy Policy Report series.
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 2
Copyright......Page 3
Contents......Page 4
About the author......Page 5
Executive Summary......Page 6
PART ONE: The 1990s and LUKoil......Page 10
1.1 Military defeats energy: Russian foreign policy in Azerbaijan in the early 1990s......Page 11
1.2 The beginning of Russian energy policy in Azerbaijan......Page 14
1.3 Energy cooperation takes priority: LUKoil’s expansion in Azerbaijan and the change of the Russian government’s attitude......Page 17
PART TWO: The 2000s and Putin’s ‘liberal empire’......Page 20
2.1 Putin’s election: the start of a new economic strategy towards Azerbaijan.......Page 21
2.2 Putin’s first visit to Baku and the expansion of LUKoil in Azerbaijan.......Page 25
2.3 LUKoil slows down: Itera, Gazprom and RAO-UES step in......Page 30
PART THREE: Russian energy policy in Azerbaijan: what next?......Page 48
Notes and references......Page 52
About the series: Russian foreign energy policy reports......Page 58
