The European Union (EU) on Monday signed a strategic energy partnership with Azerbaijan to double natural gas imports from the South Caucasus country by 2027, as part of a continued push to reduce Europe’s energy dependency on Russia. The deal was inked following a meeting between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev.
The deal states that Baku will increase its gas exports from 8 billion cubic metres per year to 20 billion cubic metres by 2027 via the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC). The SGC is part of a network of pipelines connecting Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Greece, Albania, and Italy.
The deal also mentions that the EU will significantly invest in “the expansion of the SGC pipeline network” to ensure it can deliver the target amount. Both sides also agreed to expand cooperation in renewable energy and implement sustainable energy policies.
Von der Leyen called the deal a “new chapter” in the EU’s energy cooperation with Azerbaijan, “a key partner in our efforts to move away from Russian fossil fuels.” “From next year on, we [Europe] should already reach 12 billion cubic metres. This will help compensate for cuts in supplies of Russian gas and contribute significantly to Europe’s security of supply,” she said during a joint press conference with Aliyev.
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