Within Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council 12th Ministerial Meeting and Green Energy Advisory Council 4th Ministerial Meeting, speaking at the Ministerial Meeting Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said that the world was rapidly entering the Age of Electricity, driven by Artificial Intelligence, data centers, and digitalization.
He highlighted that gas would remain a cornerstone of energy security for decades, and that security depended on timely investment and clear policy frameworks. It was noted that Azerbaijan had increased natural gas supplies to Europe by more than 56% since 2021, and the capacity of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline has been expanded by 1.2 bcm, as well as the expansion of the gas supply network from Southeast Europe to the Middle East and Central Europe were touched upon as positive points. Of the 25.2 bcm of gas exported last year, approximately 51% went to Europe, while Türkiye, Georgia, and Syria accounted for the remaining 49%. "Azerbaijan is a reliable supplier to Europe, and demand for our gas remains strong, however, institutional and financial support for expansion from the demand side is still insufficient. We are advancing four upstream projects for launch between 2026 and 2029, with first non-associated gas from Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli expected this year, alongside four new onshore and offshore exploration efforts. The UAE’s ADNOC (XRG) becoming a shareholder in the Southern Gas Corridor is another great news. Yet despite such positive developments, a substantial increase in volumes to Europe will require a clear, long-term policy framework supported by concrete financial mechanisms"- added the Minister.
The Minister also brought to the attention the current situation related to develop 8 GW of renewable capacity for domestic use, export, and data centers. He also highlighted progress related to the establishment of the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe, Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Europe routes both directly from Nakhchivan and via Armenia, as well as the Trans-Caspian and East-West green energy corridors. It was emphasized that through these interregional energy links and electricity, Azerbaijan will further strengthen its role in the energy security of Europe.
