BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 2
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Azerbaijan plans to increase gas supplies to Europe to 9.1 billion cubic meters as of 2022, Orkhan Zeynalov, the head of the International Cooperation Department of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy, told Asia Times, Trend reports.
“In 2021, we exported 8.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe. This year we’re planning to increase the export up to 9.1 billion cubic meters. In 2023, Azerbaijan is expected to supply European countries with 11 billion cubic meters of natural gas,” he explained.
Zeynalov said the more renewables Azerbaijan has, the more gas it will be able to export, adding that Baku expects to increase its renewable capacity to 30 percent by 2030.
“We want to have a bigger role in Europe’s energy security architecture, but we are not trying to replace anyone’s market share,” he noted.
Azerbaijan began gas supplies to Europe via the Southern Gas Corridor, which is comprised of Shah Deniz 2, the South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion, the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) on December 31, 2020.
Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) AG confirmed on Dec. 31, 2020 the commencement of gas flows from Azerbaijan. The first gas has reached Greece and Bulgaria, via the Nea Mesimvria interconnection point with DESFA, as well as Italy, via the Melendugno interconnection point with SNAM Rete Gas (SRG).
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn