Azerbaijan is increasing its gas exports in the direction of Europe, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said Tuesday during an official visit to Germany.
After exporting 8 billion cubic meters of gas in Europe in 2021, Azerbaijan hopes to increase this amount to 12 billion cubic meters, or half of its total exports, Aliyev said during a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
He explained that Baku plans to export 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe by 2027 within the strategic partnership agreement it signed with the EU last year, noting, however, that Azerbaijan’s gas exports are not limited to Europe but are also aimed toward Türkiye, Georgia, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, and Romania.
Baku’s plans will also include Hungary by the end of 2023.
Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, Azerbaijan had received orders for energy exports from at least 10 countries Aliyev noted stressing, however, that in order to further direct Azerbaijani gas exports to Europe in the future, new long-term contracts must be signed.
Emphasizing that Azerbaijan has a broad energy potential, he expressed hope that his country will export not only gas but also green energy in the future, well aware that, there is a very high trend towards a transition to green energy in Europe.
In line with Baku’s economic plans, Aliyev also met with around 30 German companies on Monday that have shown great interest in Azerbaijan and its economy.
During Scholz- Aliyev meeting, as the Azeri president noted pointing out that ties between Germany and Azerbaijan are at a high level, many issues were discussed, including Azerbaijan’s relations with the European Union.
A particular accent was put on the MoU on Strategic Partnership in the field of energy security Azerbaijan signed with the European Union last year, showing that Baku is a reliable partner for Europe, with Aliyev underscoring the importance of the memorandum’s speedy and timely implementation.
