Azerbaijan's energy minister calls for EU support to boost gas exports, green energy transition

Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov has affirmed the country’s keenness  to deepen its long-term cooperation with the European Union (EU) in the fields of natural gas supply and green energy as he addressed a press conference on the margins of the 11th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and 3rd Green Energy Advisory Council meetings in Baku.

Shahbazov highlighted the importance of expanding gas supply to Europe, stressing the need for long-term contracts, guarantees, and EU investments to bolster gas infrastructure. He noted that while Azerbaijan has significantly increased its gas exports by 57 per cent between 2021 and 2024, there is still significant potential for further growth, Caliber.Az reports.

“We have sufficient natural gas reserves, and we are committed to increasing our gas exports to Europe,” Shahbazov stated.

“However, to ensure the continuation and expansion of this partnership, we require financial support, long-term contracts, and guarantees from the EU,” he added.

While Azerbaijan had initially received backing for the first phase of its agreement with the EU, Shahbazov noted that the expected guarantees for the second phase of the Shah Daniz project did not materialize. This remains a key concern as Azerbaijan moves forward with its plans to double gas exports to Europe.

In addition to its gas supply ambitions, Shahbazov also highlighted Azerbaijan’s growing role in regional green energy projects. “Azerbaijan has the capacity to implement large-scale green energy projects, and we are already making significant strides in this area,” the minister remarked.

He specifically referenced the Caspian-Black Sea- Europe green energy corridor project, noting that it, along with other initiatives like the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Türkiye-Bulgaria green energy corridor, are complementary, not competing projects. “We have enough green energy resources to support both projects,” Shahbazov affirmed.

Furthermore, Shahbazov discussed Azerbaijan's collaboration with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on green energy initiatives. A feasibility study for this project, which has received $2 million in funding from the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, is currently underway.

The Minister emphasized that these initiatives not only support regional energy security but also align with Azerbaijan’s commitment to the global energy transition, focusing on both gas and renewable energy solutions.

By Vafa Guliyeva