Azerbaijan's energy policy strengthens its strategic position - OPINION

Azerbaijan's energy policy is further strengthening the country's geopolitical and geoeconomic position, Vugar Bayramov, a member of the Milli Majlis, told Report.

According to him, the remarks made by President Ilham Aliyev at the opening ceremony of Baku Energy Week once again demonstrated Azerbaijan's achievements in the energy sector and the important role the country plays in international energy security.

"Today, Azerbaijan is one of the countries making an important contribution to global energy security. Azerbaijan currently exports natural gas to 16 countries around the world. In recent years alone, more than 57 billion cubic meters of natural gas have been transported to the European market. These indicators have further strengthened Azerbaijan's position as a strategic partner in Europe's energy security. Azerbaijan is currently among the top five suppliers of natural gas to Europe and is considered one of the countries making the greatest contribution to the energy security of the European Union."

The MP said the geography of Azerbaijan's energy cooperation is gradually expanding.

"Azerbaijani gas is already being supplied to the Middle East, including Syria," he said, adding that interest in Azerbaijani gas from other Middle Eastern countries through Syria is also growing.

In addition, important steps are being taken under the Interconnector project to enable Central and Eastern European countries to use Azerbaijani gas.

"The Czech Republic has also openly expressed its interest in this direction. This indicates that the export geography of Azerbaijani gas will expand further in the future," Bayramov said.

He stressed that Azerbaijan is not only an exporter of traditional energy resources, but is also among the countries actively supporting the energy transition.

"In recent years, more than $1 billion in foreign investment has been attracted to the renewable energy sector. Azerbaijan's goal is to increase the share of renewable energy sources in energy consumption to 35% by 2030. At the same time, the country aims to start exporting green energy from 2028. Cooperation and negotiations with Georgia, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria are continuing in this direction. All this shows that Azerbaijan's energy policy is designed not only for today's needs, but also for future energy requirements," he said.

The MP noted that the successful energy strategy implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev has further strengthened Azerbaijan's position as a regional power.

"Despite the complex geopolitical processes and various political cataclysms taking place in the region, Azerbaijan has managed to protect its national interests, ensure energy security and expand international partnerships. Today, the country has become one of the region's middle powers. Azerbaijan's achievements in the energy sector make an important contribution both to economic development and to strengthening stability and security in the region," Bayramov said.