EU energy official lauds Azerbaijan for enhancing gas supply stability

The stability of the European Union's gas market is largely maintained thanks to reliable imports, including those from Azerbaijan, said Сristina Lobillo, Director of the Energy Platform Task Force at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy.

Lobillo made the comments during ministerial meetings at the Southern Gas Corridor and Green Energy Advisory Councils in Baku, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

She highlighted that today, EU energy security is significantly more resilient compared to past winters.

"The situation is stable thanks to reliable supplies, especially within the framework of strategic partnerships. In this context, I would particularly like to emphasize the contribution of Azerbaijan, as well as the positive dynamics in gas storage levels and the measures taken to reduce demand," Lobillo said.

However, she noted that escalating geopolitical tensions are creating additional risks that must be taken seriously.

"Over the past three years, the EU has done a lot of work to reduce dependence on Russian gas. Whereas around 45% of gas used to come from Russia, today that share has been reduced to 13% — both via pipelines and in the form of LNG," Lobillo pointed out.

Lobillo also mentioned that the European Union is continuing its efforts to diversify energy sources by expanding cooperation with reliable suppliers. The EU remains committed to its climate neutrality goal by 2050, which involves gradually decreasing the consumption of fossil fuels, including natural gas.

However, she stressed that natural gas will continue to play a crucial role during the transition period.

"Natural gas remains a key element of stability and economic development for the next two decades. The Southern Gas Corridor holds a strategic position in this process, and we expect further increases in supply volumes through this route," she concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova