Azerbaijan’s gas exports to Bulgaria soar, meeting significant energy needs

Azerbaijan’s natural gas supplies to Bulgaria in 2024 amounted to 2 billion cubic metres, Huseyn Huseynov, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the country said.

In an interview with the Bulgarian TV channel, Ambassador Huseynov detailed the ongoing expansion of Azerbaijan's energy exports to Bulgaria following the energy crisis in the country, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"After the energy crisis in Bulgaria, we began increasing our natural gas supplies at the request of the Bulgarian government," Huseynov explained.

"We started with 1 billion cubic metres, then increased the volume to 1.2 billion, followed by 1.5 billion, and by the end of last year, we reached 2 billion cubic metres. This now meets a significant portion of Bulgaria's natural gas needs."

The Ambassador also discussed Azerbaijan's broader role in supplying natural gas to European Union (EU) countries, highlighting the strategic importance of energy partnerships.

"The EU sees Azerbaijan as a reliable partner," Huseynov stated. "In 2022, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a strategic partnership in the field of energy with the EU. Initially, we had planned to supply 10 billion cubic metres of gas annually through the Southern Gas Corridor, but in light of events in Europe, this volume was increased to 13 billion cubic metres by the end of last year."

Azerbaijan’s gas exports now reach 12 EU countries, contributing significantly to Europe's energy security. Ambassador Huseynov emphasized that Azerbaijan views Bulgaria as a key transit country for its natural gas, reinforcing the strategic importance of the country in Azerbaijan's energy supply network.

The growing energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and European countries underscores the importance of diversifying energy sources, particularly in the context of recent geopolitical events that have highlighted the need for reliable and stable energy partnerships in Europe.

By Vafa Guliyeva