Azerbaijan eyes to establish "green corridor" from China to Europe official says

Director General of the Baku International Sea Trade Port Taleh Ziyadov has said that Azerbaijan is aiming to establish a "green corridor" along the Middle Corridor route from China to Europe.

“Creating a ‘green’ Middle Corridor requires the collaborative efforts of all parties involved, including the port, railways, and the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company [ASCO],” he told journalists, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"This also involves countries like Kazakhstan and China. Coordination is underway, and everyone understands the importance of a green corridor. The requirements for a green corridor are not excessive: it involves green certification for ports and transitioning railways to clean energy sources like solar and wind," Ziyadov stated.

He also reminded that the EU plans to implement a carbon tax in 2026.

"This means that if your container arrives in the EU, they will assess the source used for its delivery. If the source is not green, a tax will be imposed. Our goal is to create a corridor that is completely green from China to Europe, so that even if circumstances change tomorrow, everyone will want to use this corridor because it is environmentally friendly," Ziyadov added. 

He added that the focus is on "greening" all modes of transport involved in the Middle Corridor, including containers, ports, vessels, and railways in Azerbaijan and Georgia. 

Ziyadov noted that Kazakhstan is seriously considering the use of hydrogen as a green fuel.

"I believe that in 5-10 years, it will become more widely available for general use," he stated.  

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, is an international transport route that runs through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and stretching in Türkiye and European countries. A key component of this corridor is the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

By Naila Huseynova