Baku, 1 October 2022 (TDI): The President of Azerbaijan Ilhan Aliyev said that his country is a reliable partner and will stick to an agreement to double gas exports to the European Union by 2027.
Speaking to reporters in Bulgaria’s capital, President Ilhan Aliyev called a new gas interconnector with Greece “a historic achievement and an opportunity for Azeri gas to reach Europe in larger quantities.”
Greece and Bulgaria started the commercial operation of a long-delayed gas pipeline called IGB (Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria) which will help decrease southeast Europe’s dependence on Russian gas and boost energy security.
Azerbaijan at the IGB
Azerbaijan has been, for many years, a reliable oil supplier to international, primarily European markets, and now become a reliable gas supplier, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said. He addressed the ceremony to inaugurate the Greece-Bulgaria Gas Interconnector (IGB) in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The President said, “For almost two years, Azerbaijani gas is on the European market and now in Bulgaria. The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the continent, which changed the energy map of Europe. Azerbaijan is proud to be the initiator of the Southern Gas Corridor. The Southern Gas Corridor transports gas to consumers by a new route, but also from a new source.”
He further added, “This is also part of our strategic partnership Memorandum of Understanding on energy which was signed this July between the European Commission and Azerbaijan.
So, soon I am sure Azerbaijan will become a reliable electricity supplier to Europe, and the proven reserves of our wind potential only in the Caspian Sea is 157 gigawatt now we are already discussing with our European partners how to bring this energy to the European continent.”
The Azerbaijani President also added, “The IGB project will play an important role in strengthening energy security of Europe and diversification of gas supplies. Energy security is part of the national security of every country and the current geopolitical situation in the world proves it once again.”
Also, read: EU accuses Russia of Energy Weaponization
