18th Baku Summer Energy School kicks off at ADA University

The 18th Baku Summer Energy School (BSES) commenced with an opening ceremony at ADA University on July 8.

Organised by the Institute for Development and Diplomacy of ADA University, the summer school is conducted in collaboration with the ADA University Fund (Azerbaijan), State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), bp AGT, GL Group, and KOLİN Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports citing the local media.

At the opening ceremony of the 18th Baku Summer Energy School (BSES) held at ADA University on July 8, remarks were delivered by various dignitaries including ADA University Rector Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov, President of SOCAR Rovshan Najaf, Group CEO of GL Group Asif Zeynalov, and bp Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye Gary Jones.

Rector Hafiz Pashayev highlighted that the Baku Summer Energy School has been an annual event since 2007, focusing on energy and environmental issues in the Caspian region for both local and international participants.

Vice Rector of ADA University and Director of the Institute for Development and Diplomacy Fariz Ismailzade emphasized that this year's Summer School is centered on renewables and green energy, aligning with the themes of COP29 scheduled in Baku this November. He underscored the BSES's role in supporting Azerbaijan's efforts to develop its renewable energy capacity, a critical component of the country's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2050.

The two-week certificate program convenes renowned scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to explore global and Caspian energy and environmental issues comprehensively. Participants will delve into topics including regional pipeline developments, energy security, energy fundamentals, energy law and economics, environmental management in the oil and gas industry, climate change, green energy initiatives, expectations for COP29, and strategic perspectives from SOCAR and bp.

The second week of the summer school will take place in Georgia, providing participants with a regional perspective on energy issues and the Green Energy Corridor initiative.

This year’s program hosts 50 participants from 12 countries: Azerbaijan, Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, China, Hungary, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Vietnam, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Participants represent diverse organizations including the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), bp Azerbaijan, think tanks from the US and Hungary, among others.

BSES offers extensive opportunities for participants to engage and network with leaders from the public and private sectors worldwide. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussions on pressing issues with ministers, prominent scholars, practitioners, and senior representatives from energy companies in the region who will serve as keynote speakers.