SOCAR, Uzbekneftegaz actively cooperating, Uzbek official says

Azerbaijan’s SOCAR and Uzbekistan’s Uzbekneftegaz are actively cooperating across multiple oil and gas projects as the two countries continue to strengthen their strategic energy partnership, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Energy Minister Umid Mamadaminov said on the sidelines of the 5th Tashkent International Investment Forum.

He noted that energy cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan is moving beyond traditional hydrocarbons and increasingly covering renewable energy development, regional energy connectivity, and long-term initiatives in energy security, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Addressing the feasibility study (FS) for a green energy corridor across the Caspian Sea, designed to connect Central Asia with Europe via Azerbaijan, Mamadaminov said the project is expected to be completed by January 2027.

According to him, preparatory work on the study has already begun, with Italian engineering and consulting company CESI selected as the lead consultant.

“We expect the first stage of the FS to be completed by January 2027. This will provide the technical, economic and commercial basis for moving the project to the next stage of implementation,” he stressed.

He described the green energy corridor as one of the most strategically significant energy initiatives in the Central Asian region, aimed at exporting electricity generated from renewable sources in Central Asia to European markets via a dedicated transmission route across the Caspian Sea.

“Central Asia has enormous renewable energy resources, particularly significant wind and solar potential. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan alone are implementing large-scale renewable energy development programmes that will create significant opportunities for future exports of green electricity. The green energy corridor is designed to unlock this regional potential and strengthen energy connectivity between Central Asia and Europe,” he added.

The deputy minister further emphasised that all participating countries are jointly involved in the project’s implementation, with a special project company already established for coordination purposes.

In his view, the project is based on proven technologies successfully used in other regions.

“This is not an experimental concept. Similar high-voltage submarine interconnector projects are already operating successfully between several countries, including NorNed between Norway and the Netherlands, BritNed between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, North Sea Link between Norway and the United Kingdom, NordLink between Germany and Norway, Viking Link between Denmark and the United Kingdom, as well as the SAPEI cable connecting mainland Italy with Sardinia. The uniqueness of this project lies in the fact that it will create the first direct green energy bridge between Central Asia and Europe,” he explained.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov