Azerbaijan joins Athens Energy Summit
Athens, January 30, AZERTAC
Azerbaijani Ambassador to Greece Arif Mammadov addressed a panel session titled "Energy and Diplomacy Challenges in SE Europe" held as part of the Athens Energy Summit in Greece. The panel also included the ambassadors of Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, and Moldova to Greece.
Mammadov described Azerbaijan as a reliable energy supplier to Europe. He noted that this cooperation continues within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the energy sector signed between Azerbaijan and the European Union in 2022, as well as the High-Level Energy Dialogue.
The Ambassador stated that in 2025, Azerbaijan produced 51.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas, 25.2 bcm of which was exported. The volume of gas supplied to Europe reached approximately 13 bcm, representing a 56 percent increase compared to 2021. Currently, Azerbaijani gas is delivered via the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) to 16 countries, including 10 EU members.
Mammadov noted that approximately 18 percent of Greece's natural gas needs are met by Azerbaijani gas, contributing significantly to the diversification of energy sources for countries in Southeast Europe.
The diplomat emphasized that the primary challenge is not a lack of gas reserves, but rather limited infrastructure capacity. Noting that the SGC is currently operating at full capacity, he stressed the need for coordinated investments across the entire value chain – from production to pipeline expansion—to increase supply. The support of financial mechanisms and long-term commercial contracts of 15-20 years was highlighted as crucial in this regard.
The Ambassador also touched upon Azerbaijan’s renewable energy projects, stating that by 2027, renewable sources are projected to account for 33.7 percent of the country's energy production. This transition will help reduce carbon emissions and free up additional gas volumes for export.
Furthermore, Arif Mammadov provided insights into the green energy corridors implemented by Azerbaijan, including the Caspian-Black Sea-European Green Energy Corridor (connecting Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary) and the Central Asia-Azerbaijan Green Energy Corridor (implemented with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan).
In conclusion, the diplomat reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s readiness to deepen energy cooperation with Greece, the EU, and regional partners.
The Athens Energy Summit is a prestigious international platform gathering government representatives, international organizations, and leading energy actors to discuss security, diversification, and the green transition.
Igbal Hajiyev
Special correspondent
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