The head of the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan: The European Union asks for 14 billion cubic meters of gas

The European Union has requested an additional 14 billion cubic meters per year from Azerbaijan. This was stated by the country's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov.

"We are continuing the dialogue with the European Union because we see additional demand for Azerbaijani gas. At least 14 billion cubic meters have been requested from us," Parviz Shahbazov said at an OPEC seminar, Prime reports.

The minister noted that Azerbaijan's gas potential can play an important role in Europe's energy security, but the full realization of this potential is possible on the basis of investments and long-term commitments.

According to Shahbazov, quoted by apa, Azerbaijani gas provides 78% of gas consumption in Georgia, more than 50% in Bulgaria, 18% in Greece, about 16% in Italy and 18.5% in Turkey.

The European Union wants to abandon Russian gas. Fully — from 2028. And Brussels is looking for alternative supplies. In 2022, Azerbaijan and The European Union signed a memorandum on the growth of supplies from 10 to 20 billion cubic meters per year.

Last year, deliveries amounted to 12.9 billion cubic meters. However, they are limited not only by the capacities of the Southern Gas Corridor, which need to be expanded. Caspian fields do not have enough capacity. In the coming years, Baku can only count on the Absheron project. Its capacity should grow from 1.5 to 4.5−5.5 billion cubic meters per year.