Azerbaijan proves trusted energy partner to Europe, says IEA chief

Azerbaijan has reaffirmed its role as a reliable energy partner for the EU and beyond by boosting gas exports during one of Europe's most challenging periods, said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

Following a key meeting in Brussels on the upcoming COP30 summit, Birol praised Azerbaijan’s efforts in bolstering energy security and supporting the energy transition, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

"Yesterday, we held a very important meeting in Brussels concerning COP30, with the participation of COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev. Among other topics, we discussed the outcomes of COP29 and expectations for COP30," Birol noted.

He said Azerbaijan’s contributions at last year’s COP29 climate conference in Baku were highly appreciated by all participants of the IEA High-Level Dialogue on energy transition.

The remarks came as Brussels hosted the 10th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, gathering representatives from nearly 100 countries, including several ministers and company executives.

“I was pleased to see Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov among the speakers. He rightly highlighted Azerbaijan’s critical role in both regional and global energy markets,” Birol stated.

“I want to personally thank Azerbaijan. By boosting gas exports during a difficult period for Europe, it has once again demonstrated its reliability as an energy supplier and partner, both for the EU and beyond,” he added.

In his address at the conference, Birol underscored the growing importance of energy efficiency in ensuring energy security and addressing the climate crisis. He noted that surging electricity demand in recent years has been driven largely by the increased use of air conditioners amid global warming.

“This example clearly shows that by making air conditioners more energy-efficient – and applying the same approach across sectors – many issues can be addressed effectively,” he said.

Birol stressed that improving energy efficiency remains one of the most accessible and impactful solutions across the energy system.

“If we made air conditioning more efficient, we’d consume less electricity, households would save money, and emissions would decline,” he explained.

Highlighting the IEA’s work across all energy sources and technologies, Birol said: “Why do we prioritise energy efficiency? Because we consider it the 'first fuel'. Before oil, gas, solar, wind, hydropower or nuclear energy, efficiency comes first. And every country has significant potential in this area.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev