Ambassador: Baku-Sofia energy pact sparks new era in green cooperation

Energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria is playing an increasingly vital role in bolstering energy security and diversifying energy sources for both Bulgaria and the broader European Union, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Huseyn Huseynov, said in an interview with the Bulgarian publication "Stroitel", local media reports.

According to the ambassador, the economic partnership between the two countries has seen notable growth in recent years, with energy collaboration forming a cornerstone of bilateral ties.

“Azerbaijan’s exports to Bulgaria have risen significantly, particularly in natural gas, lubricants, and petroleum products,” Huseynov noted.

He emphasised that Azerbaijan has become a major supplier of natural gas to Bulgaria, covering a substantial share of the country’s domestic consumption under a long-term supply agreement. The successful implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor, particularly the activation of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector, has enabled Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas directly.

A landmark moment in bilateral cooperation came in 2023 with the opening of the SOCAR (State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic) representative office in Sofia. Since then, SOCAR has partnered with Bulgarian companies on various energy initiatives, including gasification and distribution projects. The company was granted a ten-year license to trade natural gas in Bulgaria and began supplying both industrial consumers and social groups last year.

In addition to conventional energy projects, Ambassador Huseynov underscored growing interest on both sides in joint ventures focused on renewable energy, hydrogen, and environmentally friendly technologies.

“Both Azerbaijan and Bulgaria are actively exploring renewable energy cooperation, especially through the Green Energy Corridor initiative,” he said. This project leverages Azerbaijan’s renewable energy capacity alongside Bulgaria’s infrastructure and strategic transit location. In a major development, Bulgaria joined Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary in a regional effort to deliver renewable electricity via an undersea cable across the Black Sea.

Further advancing their green energy agenda, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a new energy partnership that includes Georgia and Türkiye. This agreement aims to establish new interconnections for the transmission and trade of green electricity, laying the groundwork for exporting Azerbaijan’s renewable energy to European markets, Huseynov concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova