Baku ignites the future of energy Blue fuel, green power, global partnerships 

The global energy dialogue, the expansion of “blue” fuel supplies to Europe, cooperation in the field of “green” energy, and the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, decarbonisation, drilling technologies, and oil product processing and storage—all became key themes at the Baku Energy Week, which kicked off on June 2. 

The opening ceremony of the 30th Anniversary Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition, the 13th Caspian International Power and Green Energy Exhibition, and the 30th Anniversary Baku Energy Forum took place at the Baku Expo Center as part of the event. The ceremony was honoured by the presence of Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev.

Since the first international oil and gas exhibition, Xazarneftgaz, was held in 1994 in the capital of independent Azerbaijan—a forum established on the initiative of national leader Heydar Aliyev—this event has grown to become the largest annual energy gathering in the Caspian region. In subsequent years, the exhibition was renamed Caspian Oil and Gas, and the many events held under the Baku Energy Week banner have played a vital role in highlighting the achievements and future prospects of the landmark “Contract of the Century.” With the steadfast support of President Ilham Aliyev, the forum has risen to become one of the most influential energy platforms worldwide.

On June 2, during the opening ceremony of the anniversary oil and gas forum at the Baku Expo Center, President Ilham Aliyev delivered a keynote speech before touring the exhibition displays. Addressing the participants of Baku Energy Week, the head of state highlighted the event as a vivid demonstration of Azerbaijan’s successful journey in the energy sector, its growing international prestige, and its visionary strategic approach. The President noted that by advancing energy diplomacy, forging strategic partnerships, and strengthening Azerbaijan’s position on the global energy map, the Caspian Oil & Gas exhibition has become a historic milestone as the country’s first national exhibition brand.

“Throughout the years, this initiative has expanded in line with global trends in the energy sector and has adopted the Baku Energy Week format. Addressing a wide range of topics, from traditional energy sources to renewable energy, Baku Energy Week has gained recognition as an authoritative forum where new approaches and international energy dialogue are shaped,” said the head of state.

The President of Azerbaijan emphasised that strengthening energy security, diversifying energy supply sources, and the sustainable development of green energy remain among the country’s top priorities.

“Without access to the open seas, Azerbaijan today is considered to be one of the important transportation hubs of Eurasia, with our huge investments in transportation infrastructure. Also, our energy projects have completely changed the energy map of Eurasia. Together with our partners, we built strategic pipelines to connect the Caspian Sea with the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Of course, the crown of our pipelines is the Southern Gas Corridor, which stretches 3,500 kilometers from the Azerbaijani offshore fields to Italy,” President Ilham Aliyev noted.

Thanks to the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) infrastructure, Azerbaijan’s natural gas is now exported to 12 countries, predominantly in Europe. These steps have significantly increased Azerbaijan’s geopolitical importance, positioning the country as a guarantor of regional and global energy security. Gas exports reached 25 billion cubic metres in 2024, and work is underway to increase production and boost exports by an additional 8 billion cubic metres by 2030.

At the same time, Azerbaijan plans to increase electricity generation from renewable energy sources (RES) to 6.5 gigawatts by 2030, based on already signed contracts and investment commitments. Notably, approximately two-thirds of this “green” electricity volume is planned for export.

Azerbaijan’s achievements in expanding gas supplies through the Southern Gas Corridor, as well as joint renewable energy projects with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, China, the United Kingdom, and other European countries, have been repeatedly showcased in recent years at the Oil and Gas exhibition in Baku. As the largest event in the Caspian region for decades, Caspian Oil & Gas and the Baku Energy Forum remain highly relevant in 2025.

For the events held from June 2 to 4 during Baku Energy Week, official delegations and representatives from around 267 companies across eighty countries arrived in Azerbaijan, clearly demonstrating the sustained interest of global oil giants in Azerbaijan’s hydrocarbon resources and renewable energy sources. Overall, the participants represent the entire global energy landscape—from Europe and the United States to the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

About 70% of the forum participants are foreign companies, with approximately 40% of the exhibition space occupied by well-known companies that are regular participants in Baku’s exhibitions. At the same time, new companies made up 35% of all participants in this year’s Baku Energy Forum, highlighting the high level of international cooperation and interest in Azerbaijan’s energy sector.

Notably, the programme of the first day of Baku Energy Week was also marked by intensity and productivity: during the exhibition events, a series of energy-related documents were signed, and the day concluded with a panel discussion on “Sustainability in the Energy Industry.”

Specifically, agreements were signed to implement three solar energy projects with a total capacity of 200 MW, as well as to develop cooperation in green energy between the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan and Maire Tecnimont S.p.A.

For the first time in the country, under an international auction mechanism, the Ministry of Energy and Universal Solar Azerbaijan LLC signed a land lease agreement for the implementation of the 100 MW Gobustan solar power plant project. Additionally, an agreement was signed with Azerenerji OJSC for the purchase and sale of the generated green electricity and the connection of the solar power plant to the transmission grid.

As part of initiatives to transform the liberated territories into a “green energy zone,” agreements were also signed for the construction of two solar power plants in the Jabrayil district: the Ministry of Energy signed land lease contracts for the 50 MW Ufug and 50 MW Shams solar power plant projects with Enerso Jabrayil LLC and Clean Energy Jabrayil LLC, respectively.

Additionally, during the Caspian Oil & Gas exhibition events, BP and Azerenerji OJSC signed a document confirming the final investment decision for the construction of the 240 MW Shafag solar power plant in the Jabrayil district. The final investment decision was also made for the electrification project of the Sangachal terminal.

At the exhibition forum, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Chinese corporation China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited signed an agreement on comprehensive strategic cooperation in the energy sector. Together with Chinese partners, plans are underway to modernise the electricity grids to integrate a greater number of renewable energy facilities into the country’s energy system.

The joint portfolio also includes projects for the construction of a 160 MW solar power plant in Fuzuli and research on a 200 MW offshore wind power plant in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijan-Türkiye cooperation in the energy sector is also progressing very productively. “The global geopolitical developments experienced in recent times have once again confirmed the importance of Turkish-Azerbaijani cooperation in ensuring energy security. This cooperation, crowned with infrastructure projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, and TANAP pipelines, makes significant contributions not only to Türkiye and Azerbaijan but also to the energy security of the region and Europe,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his address to the participants of Baku Energy Week.

The Turkish leader also recalled that in March of this year, the Iğdır-Nakhchivan gas pipeline was commissioned, strengthening the energy security of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and making Türkiye and Azerbaijan even stronger. He further reminded that in April, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Bulgaria signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a “Green Energy Corridor.”

Meanwhile, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, told the media during the 30th International Caspian Oil & Gas exhibition that the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) plans to become a partner with Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR) and the British company BP in the development of the Shafag-Asiman gas field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

“TPAO is entering the Shafag-Asiman gas field as a partner, aiming to acquire a 30% stake in this project. I hope we will finalise the agreement during Baku Energy Week,” said Türkiye’s Minister of Energy.