(Adds ExxonMobil's statement, background)
BAKU, Feb 17 (Reuters) - U.S. energy company ExxonMobil has closed one of its offices in Azerbaijan, thecountry's tax ministry said on Wednesday, the result of adelayed oil project.
The office was linked to an oil production project on theAraz-Alov-Sharg oilfields in the Caspian Sea. The project isfrozen until a decision is taken about the status of the CaspianSea between Azerbaijan and Iran.
Exxon's other office in the oil-rich country will stay open,the company said in a statement.
"No change has occurred to the permanent representation ofExxonMobil in Azerbaijan or to the office of Exxon AzerbaijanLimited in Baku," the company said.
Exxon Azerbaijan Ltd has a nine percent interest in theAzerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) which produceshydrocarbons from the major Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) fields,a project operated by BP.
"ExxonMobil has had a continuous business presence inAzerbaijan since 1995 and remains committed to bringing to AIOCits extensive global expertise, for example, in geoscience,reservoir engineering, drilling and production technology," thecompany said. (Reporting by Nailia Bagirova; Writing by Margarita; Antidze;Editing by Andrew Osborn)
BP (BP.)
