(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Elnur Enveroglu read more Baku Expo Center was a venue for the 28th International Caspian
Oil & Gas Exhibition and the 11th Caspian International Power and
Green Energy Exhibition within the framework of the Baku Energy
Week. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of
the exhibitions, where the US Secretary of State for Energy
Resources Geoffrey Pyatt, UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to
Azerbaijan Baroness Emma Nicholson, Director for Energy Policy,
Strategy and Coordination at the European Commission's
Directorate-General for Energy Christina Lobillo Borrero and other
high-level representatives participated.
As mentioned by the President of Azerbaijan the Baku energy week
is one of the leading international events in the energy
sector.
The importance of the event can be emphasized in many ways. One of
them is that such an exhibition organized in Azerbaijan is received
with great interest by the leading state leaders of the USA and
Europe.
It is a fact that due to the changing geopolitical and geostrategic
conditions, Azerbaijan is considered one of the leading energy
centers in recent times. 29 years ago, when the contract of the
century was signed, Azerbaijan started a great era in establishing
economic relations with the West for the first time in the South
Caucasus. President Ilham Aliyev, who mentioned that period in his
speech at the opening of the event, emphasized that since 1994,
economic relations have been successfully continued in a more
diversified form.
“For almost 30 years, we have successfully cooperated in the energy
area. And now, not only in energy area, we are diversifying our
cooperation. The US and the UK governments have always been very
supportive to all the initiatives of Azerbaijan to develop its
resources of the Caspian sea,” the President said in his address at
the event.
Yes, the head of state rightly emphasized that the oil contract
of the century, signed in 1994, became the guarantor of
Azerbaijan's economic and political freedom.
“Signing the Contract of the Century in 1994 was the only step
which could provide success, sustainable development, economic
independence, and as a result, political independence.”
It is also important to emphasize that the oil contract of the
century is related to the name of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.
For this reason, it is not a coincidence that the event coincides
with the 100th anniversary of the great leader's birth.
"This year's "Baku Energy Week" coincides with the celebration
of the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of
the Azerbaijani people and the founder of the independent
Azerbaijan state. This is a remarkable event. The emergence of the
energy dialogue platform and exhibition activities in Azerbaijan is
associated with the exceptional role of Heydar Aliyev," the
President said.
Values given to Azerbaijan as a reliable
partner
In addition, the Energy Week event held at the international level
in Baku once again proved that the economic connection between
Azerbaijan and the West has deeper roots.
During his speech, President Ilham Aliyev mentioned the message
that Azerbaijan is the most reliable partner in the field of
energy, and also demonstrated the power of trust and confidence in
Azerbaijan in providing a kind of energy security.
“So, we really work as a team because we have one target - how
to strengthen energy security, how to help each other to overcome
difficulties, whether they are situative difficulties or can be
difficulties of strategic origin. Of course, we are very proud that
the European Union high-ranking officials called Azerbaijan a
reliable partner, which is true, and call Azerbaijan a Pan-European
gas supplier, which also becomes true.”
Today, thanks to this trust and confidence, Azerbaijan is
considering increasing the gas export to Europe, as well as
expanding its scope. Due to some geopolitical realities, Azerbaijan
enters the new alliance as one of the main energy suppliers of
Europe. Of course, this is a solidarity ring, as the president
mentioned.
“The project called solidarity ring including Azerbaijan, Bulgaria,
Hungary, Romania and Slovakia envisages additional
interconnectors,” the President said.
The expansion of the scope of energy supply is also a constant
increase in the demand for Azerbaijani gas. The head of state notes
that Azerbaijan has undertaken to supply gas to 10 countries. Of
course, to meet all these needs, Azerbaijan needs to implement
large-scale projects. But today, all interests are focused on green
energy. At such a level, oil and gas become secondary. However, as
President Ilham Aliyev emphasized, everything should also be
considered from a realistic point of view.
“I'd like to underline that it will be also important for
international financial institutions to support these projects.
Though we know that now, with respect to the green energy
transition, some international financial institutions stop
financing projects based on fossil fuel. I think, we need to treat
all the issues from realistic point of view. Today, it is clear
that without natural gas supplies, energy security cannot be
provided to the degree it is needed,” the Azerbaijani President
added.
President Ilham aliyev also touched on expanding projects within
TANAP and TAP concerning Azerbaijan's plan to increase the gas
supply to Europe.
“There are a lot of things to do. We need to expand TANAP and
TAP. We need to have unimpeded access to other European pipeline
system including trans-Balkan pipeline system. And there must be
more interconnectors in Europe and it is going,” the President said
adding that the big investement is another vital segment of such a
giant project.
“All these issues must be implemented in coordination because we
have to undertake substantial investments. Therefore, of course, we
must be sure that the gas - which we extract additionally and did
not plan, but decided to extract because of the growing need in
Europe - will find its consumers. All that definitely will need
continuation of the team work.
As I said, though the Southern Gas Corridor project is finished but
the Advisory Council on the Southern Gas Corridor takes place every
year in February and will take again place in Baku in February
because we have new participants. We have new ideas and new plans.
If we implement all what we planned so far successfully, we will be
successful in the future,” the Azerbaijani President noted.
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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews' deputy editor-in-chief, follow him
on @elnurmammadli1