Gas Deal With Azerbaijan Critical For Romania - Minister (Exclusive)

(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 17. Attracting additional quantities of natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan can contribute to stabilizing the regional energy market, Sebastian-Ioan Burduja, Romania's energy minister, said in an exclusive interview with Trend .

"Indeed, last year, the gas system transport operators from Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia and Azerbaijan, alongside their respective ministers of energy, signed an important memorandum of understanding concerning the implementation of the Solidarity Ring (STRING).

We trust that the implementation of this initiative will bring many benefits to our region. Attracting additional quantities of natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan can thus contribute to stabilizing the regional energy market, without the absolute need for a massive transfer of funds into infrastructure projects that would subsequently impact the price paid by the end consumer," said the minister.

Burduja pointed out that the close cooperation between Azerbaijan and Europe is increasingly profound, touching a wide spectrum of topics, especially in the sphere of energy.

"Given the current context, Azerbaijan's role in regional markets is set to increase. Connectivity is the key word," added the Romanian minister.

He highlighted that Romania is working closely with Azerbaijan, Georgia and Hungary to develop the Green Energy Corridor.

"It mainly consists of a submarine cable under the Black Sea that will enable green energy to travel seamlessly between our countries, thus further integrating our energy markets. The feasibility study is on the way. From a different angle, there is also a great opportunity in increasing Azerbaijan's role in the EU gas market, by improving the connectivity capacity between our regions. For Europe, greater access to Azerbaijan gas ensures that the internal demand is met, prices can lower and industries such as petrochemicals develop. But even more importantly, gas from Azerbaijan means enhancing energy security, due to the diversification of sources," said Burduja.

He noted that Romania is determined to improve even further the cooperation with Azerbaijan and to promote the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Europe in the energy sphere.

"The already operational projects, as well as those in various stages of implementation, have already changed and will continue to transform the energy infrastructure landscape in the Southeast and Central European region. These projects create the technical and economic opportunity to transport new volumes of energy from the Caspian region, thereby better integrating this region into the European markets," said the minister.

Burduja pointed out that Romania is confident that energy security and the development of energy transport infrastructure in Central and especially Southeast Europe, significantly impacted by the prolonged war in Ukraine, along with all its energy-related consequences, will continue to be supported by the European Commission in every aspect and regarded as a European priority.

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