European Commissioner: Azerbaijan helps EU in difficult moment

European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson has said that 2022 was a very difficult year.

Simson made these remarks at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, APA reports.

“We have seen an energy crisis, energy prices in Europe have risen. Russia started a war in Ukraine, and we stopped gas supplies from Russia. We have taken certain steps, set a limit. At the same time, Azerbaijan helped in this difficult moment. Azerbaijan has increased gas supplies. We express gratitude to Azerbaijan,” she said.

“EU aims to strengthen energy cooperation with Azerbaijan,” the European Commissioner for Energy said.

She made the remarks during the ninth ministerial meeting within the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and the first ministerial meeting within the Green Energy Advisory Council in Baku on February 3, Report informs.

Simson noted that cooperation should not be limited only to gas supplies because Azerbaijan has the potential for renewable energy sources, and this potential must be used.

“The use of wind and solar energy in Azerbaijan, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere were widely discussed during the event. This is my third visit to Baku and I thank President Ilham Aliyev and Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov for the warm welcome,” she said.

Simson noted that Europe faced an energy crisis in 2022.

“Azerbaijan helped Europe in this difficult situation. We found out that the potential for solar and wind energy in Europe is not big. Azerbaijan increased gas supplies to Europe up to 40 per cent,” the commissioner said.

Simson stressed that the EU expects that Azerbaijan to double the volume of gas supplies in the coming years.

“It is not so difficult to make it technically as it is possible to expand the capabilities of an existing pipeline. I think that Azerbaijan will cope with this as well,” she said.