Azerbaijan exports 17 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe, minister says

Azerbaijan exported approximately 17 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe over the course of 2025 and the first four months of 2026 combined, accounting for 8.1% of the European Union’s pipeline gas imports last year, Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov has stated.

Speaking at the Baku Energy Forum, Shahbazov said over the past year and four months, Azerbaijan exported 16.7 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe, 12.8 billion cubic meters to Türkiye, 3.3 billion cubic meters to Georgia, and 800 million cubic meters to Serbia, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The minister added that despite growing renewable energy production in Europe, gas-fired electricity generation in the EU increased by 8% last year.

He also pointed to rising dependence on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a projected LNG supply gap of around 120 billion cubic meters for 2026–2030, which, according to him, highlights the need to reassess long-term contracts and pipeline gas policies.

Shahbazov further stated that, according to analytical assessments, up to 87% of global oil and 43% of international gas could fail to meet EU methane regulation compliance requirements by 2027, increasing the risk of supply shocks.

He emphasised that even as the energy transition accelerates, oil will remain essential for transport, industry, and the chemical sector, while growing demand from artificial intelligence, data centres, and digitalisation is driving electricity consumption to increase roughly three times faster than overall energy demand.

“The reality shows that energy security in the world cannot be achieved without oil and gas,” Shahbazov said, adding that global electrification trends instead require an even higher level of energy security.

He noted that Azerbaijan’s strategic importance is defined not only by production volumes but by its ability to connect regions and markets, adding that the country supplies oil to more than 20 countries and natural gas to 16, making it one of the leading global exporters in terms of pipeline gas geography.

The minister also said Azerbaijan’s hydrocarbon production is entering a new phase of strategic development, citing early gas production from the Azeri–Chirag–Gunashli (ACG) block as an example.

He outlined upcoming energy projects, including the Karabakh oil field (2027), Shah Deniz gas compression (2029), full-scale development of the Absheron field, the second phase of the Umid field, and the Babek gas projects.

He also highlighted onshore and offshore exploration efforts and SOCAR investments in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa, saying they will help maintain Azerbaijan’s role as a reliable oil and gas supplier for years to come.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov