On March 3, the Baku Congress Center hosted the 12th Ministerial Meeting within the framework of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and the 4th Ministerial Meeting within the framework of the Green Energy Advisory Council.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that President Ilham Aliyev attended and addressed the event, which brought together representatives from 27 countries, 11 international financial institutions, and 49 energy companies.
The meeting was opened by Azerbaijan's Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the strategic importance of the gathering. "Our meeting is an important milestone in our efforts to develop renewable energy in a balanced way and further diversify energy connections at the regional level," Shahbazov stated before inviting the head of state to the floor.
Strategic expansion of gas exports
In his keynote speech, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the rapid growth of Azerbaijan's energy footprint. He noted that the number of countries consuming Azerbaijani gas has increased from 12 to 16 since the last meeting. "Currently, the number of countries that are consumers of Azerbaijani gas has reached 16. According to this indicator, Azerbaijan ranks first in the world in terms of the number of countries to which it supplies gas through pipelines," the President said.
The President highlighted that Azerbaijan has recently begun gas supplies to Germany and Austria, bringing the total number of EU member states receiving Azerbaijani gas to ten. Furthermore, he mentioned a humanitarian dimension to the export strategy, noting that Azerbaijan has commenced gas supplies to Syria to help alleviate acute electricity shortages for the Syrian people.
Future production and infrastructure
Looking ahead, President Ilham Aliyev outlined plans to increase production from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) deep gas layers and the full-scale development of the "Absheron" field, which is expected to triple its output within three years. He also noted that by 2028, a new phase of production will begin at the "Shah Deniz" field. These projects are expected to provide an additional 10-15 billion cubic meters of gas at peak production levels.
The President stressed the need for expanding existing infrastructure, as the Southern Gas Corridor is currently operating at full capacity. He also referenced the Strategic Partnership Charter between the United States and Azerbaijan, noting that US President Donald Trump and the US administration remain key strategic partners in realizing these large-scale energy and connectivity projects.
Transition to Green Energy
The summit also focused heavily on the "green agenda." President Ilham Aliyev reported that Azerbaijan aims to generate 6-8 gigawatts of electricity from renewable sources by 2032. Significant projects include the 240 MW wind farm by ACWA Power and the 230 MW solar plant by Masdar. The President also highlighted the "Black Sea Energy Cable" project, which will transport green energy from Azerbaijan to Europe.
EU Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen praised Azerbaijan as a "reliable and trusted partner." He noted that Caspian gas has been instrumental in reducing the EU's dependence on Russian gas from 45% in 2022 to 12% in 2025. "Azerbaijan's gas supply will remain a vital pillar of the European Union's energy security," Jorgensen added.
Background and Context
The Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council was established in 2015 to ensure the delivery of Caspian gas to European markets, enhancing the energy security of the continent. Over the last decade, it has evolved from a regional initiative into a global energy project. Azerbaijan's role has expanded from being a primary producer to a vital transit hub for oil and gas from Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The inclusion of the Green Energy Advisory Council reflects the global shift toward decarbonization and Azerbaijan's commitment to the Paris Agreement and its role as a future exporter of renewable electricity.
