The head of state spoke about Azerbaijan’s history, including its “oil” legacy, reminded listeners of Azerbaijan’s victory in the Karabakh War and the restoration of its territorial integrity, and responded firmly to the “black PR” campaign launched against the country on the eve of COP29.
Though it wasn’t directly stated, the president’s speech at the climate summit highlighted how Azerbaijan consistently “breaks stereotypes,” turning public opinion around. The evolving perception of Azerbaijani hydrocarbons is a case in point. Ilham Aliyev reminded the audience: “The world’s first industrial oil well was drilled in Azerbaijan, in Baku, in 1846, located just 10-15 minutes from here. The first offshore oil well was also drilled by Azerbaijani oil workers in the Caspian Sea in the mid-20th century. In the 19th century, Azerbaijan produced over half of the world’s oil.” Notably, 30 years ago, when Azerbaijan signed its “Contract of the Century,” it had to prove that the country had “serious” oil and gas reserves worth investing in. Now, given Azerbaijan’s current role in European energy security, this is quite remarkable. Out of the ten countries currently receiving Azerbaijani hydrocarbons, eight are European, as the president pointed out.
Today, Azerbaijan faces a new challenge: shedding its “oil-based” image and showcasing a serious commitment to the “green agenda.” Aliyev reminded listeners that “our technical potential for renewable energy is estimated at 135 GW onshore and 157 GW offshore. Last year, the UAE’s Masdar inaugurated the largest solar power plant in our region, with a capacity of 230 MW. Saudi company ACWA Power is currently building a 240 MW wind power plant. During COP29, an agreement will be signed with British company BP to build a 240 MW solar plant in the Jabrayil region, liberated from Armenian occupation four years ago. This project will decarbonize one of the world’s largest oil and gas terminals – the Sangachal Terminal. By 2030, we plan to build solar, wind, and hydroelectric plants with a total capacity of about six gigawatts. And that’s not all.”
But perhaps the president’s main message was broader. Aliyev spoke not only about Azerbaijan’s “green agenda” but also about the ongoing global significance of hydrocarbons.
This message extended beyond just “climate” issues. He emphasized Azerbaijan’s national efficiency, noting: “For example, our unemployment rate is 5.4 percent, our poverty rate is 5.2 percent, and I’ve described our green agenda plans. How do countries manage their external debt? In Azerbaijan, it’s just 7.5 percent of our GDP. Such criteria should be the foundation for assessing a country’s efficiency, not its natural resources, which are a divine gift.”
Azerbaijan is also the first post-Soviet country to restore its territorial integrity and national sovereignty over its entire internationally recognized territory, free of foreign military presence. It’s tempting to attribute this success to oil alone. Yet many countries with substantial oil reserves, both in absolute terms and per capita, haven’t seen similar achievements. Oil isn’t just Norway or the Gulf monarchies; it’s also Sudan, Iran under sanctions, Iraq recovering from civil war, and Venezuela, where even the largest oil reserves in the world haven’t spared the country from severe crises. Success requires skillful management. Azerbaijan attracted oil investors, created an independent oil and gas export system, positioned its hydrocarbons as essential to European energy security, and reinvested oil revenues wisely. These investments strengthened its military and security, allowing victory in the second Karabakh war, and funded infrastructure enabling major logistics projects and now green technology initiatives.
Azerbaijan, under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership, has shown that managing a divine gift well makes all the difference.
Nurani
