Equinor and SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic) have signed an agreement whereby Equinor will divest all its remaining assets in Azerbaijan to SOCAR.

The assets comprise a 7.27% non-operated interest in the Azeri Chirag Gunashli (ACG) oil fields in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea, 8.71% interest in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline and 50% in the Karabagh field. SOCAR already holds a 25.0% stake in ACG, a 25.0% stake in BTC via Azerbaijan BTC Limited, and 50% in Karabagh.

Equinor has been present in Azerbaijan since 1992. ACG, operated by bp, is the largest oilfield in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian basin and the BTC pipeline is used to transfer crude oil to the Turkish Mediterranean coast.

“Azerbaijan has been an important part of Equinor’s international portfolio over the past 30 years. Together with SOCAR and the other partners in ACG, we have created significant value for the partnership and for the Azerbaijani society. SOCAR is well positioned to create further value from the assets for the longer-term and we have appreciated the close collaboration over the years,” says Philippe Mathieu, Equinor's executive vice president for international exploration and production.

“Equinor is in the process of re-shaping its international oil and gas business, and the divestments in Azerbaijan are in line with our strategy to focus our international portfolio,” says Philippe Mathieu.

The closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions including all regulatory and contractual approvals.

Equinor and SOCAR also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to share experience and best practice on low carbon solutions, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and carbon management.

Facts:

   - Since 1994, SOCAR and Equinor have been cooperating in important joint projects, including the ACG oil field operated by BP.
   - The ACG is located around 100 kilometres east of Baku in water depths ranging from 125-180 meters. Estimated total recoverable over the period 2018-2049 are around 3 billion barrels of oil.
   - ACG crude oil is sent via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, which carries oil from the Sangachal terminal near Baku to the Ceyhan marine terminal on the Turkish Mediterranean coast.
   - The Karabagh oilfield is located 120 kilometers east of Baku, in around 180 meters water depth. On 19 March 2020, SOCAR and Equinor confirmed discovery of Karabagh oil field in Azerbaijan.

About Equinor

Equinor (OSE:EQNR, NYSE:EQNR), is an international energy company with a proud history. Formerly Statoil, we are 20,000 committed colleagues developing oil, gas, wind and solar energy in more than 30 countries worldwide. We’re the largest operator in Norway, among the world’s largest offshore operators, and a growing force in renewables. Driven by our Nordic urge to explore beyond the horizon, and our dedication to safety, equality and sustainability, we’re building a global business on our values and the energy needs of the future.

About SOCAR

SOCAR is one of the leading international energy companies. In order to ensure the economic interests of the Azerbaijani people, SOCAR is a major operator and participant in a number of transnational projects across the country and abroad. The company is active in all the oil and gas industry value chains. Exploration of oil and gas fields, production, processing and transportation of oil, gas and gas condensate constitute the main part of the operations of SOCAR. SOCAR also exports natural gas, oil and petrochemical products to the country's market, as well as international markets. The company's goal is to become a vertical integrated international energy company with advanced experience in the field of effective operation, social and environmental responsibility. As an important EU energy supplier, SOCAR plays a special role in the sustainable economic development of Europe.