During the summit, the head of state addressed a roundtable on “Energy and Connectivity,” highlighting significant strategic achievements and plans of Azerbaijan in the energy sector.
President Aliyev emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership established in Baku in the energy field. “We planned to double our gas supply to Europe by the end of 2027, and we are moving towards that goal,” he stated. The President noted that while in 2021 Azerbaijan supplied 8 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to Europe, this year the volume will be close to 13 bcm. The total gas export in 2021 was 18 bcm, and this year it will reach 25 bcm, with more than half going to Europe.
In his speech, the President also mentioned that eight countries are currently receiving Azerbaijani gas: five EU member states – Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Hungary, and Romania; two candidate countries – Georgia and Serbia; and Türkiye. He also highlighted a significant development in the gas cooperation track between Slovenia and Azerbaijan, expressing hope that Azerbaijan will enter the Slovenian market within several months.
President Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan is a reliable energy supplier. He recalled the initiation and commissioning of the pipeline almost 20 years ago, in collaboration with neighboring countries, which connected the Caspian and Mediterranean seas for the first time in history. Now, from the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan in Türkiye, Azerbaijani oil is supplied to various destinations, including those heavily dependent on Azerbaijani crude. In some countries, the consumption of Azerbaijani crude constitutes fifty percent or more of their demand.
Aliyev added that for more than three years, Azerbaijan has become an important gas supplier, opening new opportunities for Azerbaijani gas to supply more European countries as European interconnector projects progress.