EU signs deal with Azerbaijan to double gas imports by 2027

Azerbaijan’s gasoline imports to the bloc will attain 20 billion cubic metres by 2027 because the European Union seeks non-Russian suppliers.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen attend a signing ceremony in Baku [Azerbaijani presidency/AFP]

The European Fee signed a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijan to double imports of Azeri pure gasoline to at the very least 20 billion cubic metres (bcm) a 12 months by 2027.

“At this time, with this new memorandum of understanding, we're opening a brand new chapter in our power cooperation with Azerbaijan, a key companion in our efforts to maneuver away from Russian fossil fuels,” Fee President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Monday.

She stated the European Union is searching for to double gasoline imports from Azerbaijan because it seeks non-Russian suppliers after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Azerbaijan is an important power companion for us that has at all times been dependable,” von der Leyen stated at a joint information convention with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev following the signing ceremony in Baku, the Azeri capital.

By way of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, Azerbaijan is “delivering at the moment greater than 8 billion cubic metres of gasoline per 12 months and we'll increase its capability to twenty billion cubic metres” by 2027, she stated.

The Azeri gasoline imports will already improve to 12bcm subsequent 12 months, which “will assist compensate for cuts in provides of Russian gasoline and contribute considerably to Europe’s safety of provide,” she added.

Aliyev pressured that “problems with power safety at present are extra vital than ever earlier than”.

He added: “Lengthy-lasting, predictable and really dependable cooperation between EU and Azerbaijan within the discipline of power is a giant asset.”

The Southern Fuel Hall transporting Azeri gasoline to the EU has been operational since 2020.

Pure gasoline provides have emerged as a weapon between Russia and Europe since Moscow’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine.

Forward of the go to, the European Fee stated: “Amid Russia’s continued weaponisation of its power provides, diversification of our power imports is a precedence for the EU.”

In Might, EU leaders agreed to cease most Russian oil imports by the top of the 12 months, as a part of unprecedented sanctions they slapped on Moscow over the army motion in Ukraine.

However the bloc delay an outright ban on Russian gasoline, which in 2021 amounted to 155bcm – almost 40 p.c of the EU’s wants.