(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The growing role and
opportunities of Azerbaijan, which successfully hosts important
events, participants of which discuss global problems, especially
in the field of European energy security, are recognized at the
international level.
The IX Global Baku Forum on 'Challenges to the Global World
Order', held under the auspices of the President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev and organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International
Center, also attracted attention by holding important
discussions.
Various energy projects implemented by the country in recent
years have laid the foundation for deepening international
cooperation. These projects, based on the national interests of the
country, have made Azerbaijan one of the leading exporters and
suppliers not only in the region, but also in Eurasia. Azerbaijan,
which over the past 25 years commissioned the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan,
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, Baku-Novorossiysk and Baku-Supsa oil and gas
pipelines, has implemented such global projects as TANAP and TAP,
being important segments of the Southern Gas Corridor, is
considered one of the main players in the energy market.
The country has successfully implemented a strategy for
transporting natural gas to Western markets. The annual growth in
the volume of natural gas exported to European countries confirms
that our country is a major supplier of natural gas to the world
market.
Speaking at the IX Global Baku Forum on 'Challenges to the
Global World Order', Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that
the need for Azerbaijan's energy resources is growing.
'The situation in Europe has changed dramatically. Therefore,
the need for Azerbaijani hydrocarbons is growing and we are trying
to do all what we can in order to satisfy the growing demands from
many countries. We received, during the last couple of months,
requests from many European countries with respect to the gas
supply and, of course, it is not easy, because first we need to
produce it and we were not planning to increase gas production.
Therefore, now we are working with the European Commission on
this,' the president said.
The ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine, the peak of tension in
relations between Russia and the West, and the mutual sanctions
imposed have not only sharply increased oil and gas prices on the
world market, but also strengthened the tendency to use natural
energy resources as an instrument of geopolitical pressure.
European countries are looking for alternative sources and
exporters to get rid of energy dependence on Russia.
This is evidenced by the words of the UK Prime Minister Boris
Johnson in a letter addressed to President Ilham Aliyev in
connection with the opening of the IX Global Baku Forum.
“We are now approaching the most intensive phase of two parallel
reconfigurations of our energy supply. We need to cut our ties with
Russian fossil fuels. Alternative suppliers, such as Azerbaijan,
have a vital role to play,' the letter said.
Along with the forum participants, in recent months, the heads
of states and governments of a number of European countries have
also noted the importance of cooperation with Azerbaijan in the
energy sector. One of the main reasons for this is that the country
is a reliable, stable business partner, never uses rich oil and gas
resources as a political tool, and prevents artificial price
increases.
The launch of the Southern Gas Corridor has further increased
the attractiveness and strategic importance of Azerbaijan for
Europe. The holding of ministerial meetings in Baku within the
framework of the Consultative Council on the Southern Gas Corridor
is due to the fact that Azerbaijan is the main initiator, investor
and supplier of natural gas. The predicted reserves of natural gas
fields, which are currently in operation and will be ready for
operation in the near future, amount to 2.6-3 trillion cubic
meters. This creates a reliable guarantee that Azerbaijan will
remain a reliable supplier of hydrocarbon resources for more than
100 years.
In connection with the capacity of TAP and TANAP, CEO of the
TANAP consortium Saltuk Duzyol noted that it could take nearly five
years to almost double the capacity of the gas pipeline to 31
billion cubic meters. At the first stage, this figure is expected
to be increased to 24, and at the second - to 31 billion cubic
meters. Azerbaijan is negotiating with foreign partners to increase
the throughput of pipelines.
In general, the serious support from the EU countries for the
measures taken by Azerbaijan to broaden the export of energy
resources expands its opportunities to receive real political
support in this geography and ensure its strategic interests.
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