BAKU, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan's state energy

company SOCAR has signed an agreement with Union Energy to

acquire a 10% stake in the Tamar gas field, one of the largest

in the Mediterranean basin, it said on Friday.

The deal is the first step in SOCAR's plan to invest in

production projects in the Mediterranean region, the company

said.

The agreement to acquire the stake in the Chevron ( CVX )-led

project located offshore Israel is subject to certain

conditions being met, including customary regulatory and other

approvals, it added.