Croatian PM hails fruitful energy cooperation with Azerbaijan

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has praised the country’s oil and gas cooperation with Azerbaijan, describing it as highly productive.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the 6th European Political Community Summit in Tirana, Plenković highlighted the importance of energy collaboration between the two nations, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

“During my recent visits to Baku for COP29 and previously, we held in-depth discussions on energy cooperation,” he said.

Note that, in 2024, Croatia's crude oil imports from Azerbaijan nearly doubled, reaching 587,600 tons valued at $375.98 million in the first half of the year—a 90% increase in volume and 109% in value compared to the same period in 2023. By year's end, Croatia had imported approximately 1.4 million tons of Azerbaijani oil, making it the third-largest importer of Azerbaijani crude.

In the natural gas sector, Azerbaijan's state oil company, SOCAR, commenced gas deliveries to Croatia on September 1, 2024, through partnerships with PPD and MET Group. This development marked Croatia as the tenth European country to receive Azerbaijani gas, highlighting SOCAR's role in diversifying Europe's energy sources.

The initial supply volume is modest, around 140 million cubic meters annually, but there is potential for expansion, especially considering Croatia's LNG terminal capacity and ambitions to become a regional energy hub.

High-level discussions between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in January 2025 further emphasized the importance of energy cooperation, with both leaders expressing interest in increasing gas exports and exploring broader economic ties. This growing partnership underscores the strategic alignment between Croatia and Azerbaijan in enhancing energy security and economic collaboration within Europe.

By Aghakazim Guliyev