Marat Terterov on EU–Azerbaijan Energy Cooperation – Interview for Day.Az

In conversation with Day.Az, Marat Terterov reflects on energy security in Europe, Azerbaijan’s gas export potential, and regional integration in the South Caucasus.

Source: The EU is interested in expanding energy cooperation with Azerbaijan – Founder of the Brussels Energy Club for Day.Az (in Russian)

The European Union is interested in expanding energy cooperation with Azerbaijan as a reliable and alternative supplier of natural gas.

This was stated in an interview with Day.Az by Marat Terterov, founder and principal representative of the Brussels Energy Club.

“As evidence of this, we can point to visits by high-ranking European officials to Baku. During these visits, important documents were signed aimed at deepening energy cooperation between Baku and Brussels,” the expert emphasized.

According to him, relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union are quite multifaceted.

“Europe is trying to move away from Russian energy resources, although this strategy has not yet been fully implemented. Since 2022, the share of Russian gas in European imports has declined, but it still remains significant. As for Azerbaijan, the main volume of gas supplied through the Southern Gas Corridor is directed to countries such as Greece, Bulgaria, and Italy — key partners of Azerbaijan. Over the past two to three years, we have seen a significant increase in Azerbaijani gas exports to Italy — a country that also actively imports Azerbaijani oil,” noted Marat Terterov.

At the same time, the expert emphasized that Serbia and other Southeast European countries are also expressing interest in joining the Southern Gas Corridor.

According to BP — the main partner of SOCAR in the development of Azerbaijan’s gas fields — the country’s resource base remains relevant for many years to come. “Natural gas reserves are quite substantial,” added the founder of the Brussels Energy Club.

It is in this context, Terterov said, that the Southern Gas Corridor plays an important role.

“The SGC undoubtedly plays a vital role in ensuring energy security for European countries, but it is important to consider how rapidly demand for natural gas imports is growing in Europe. On one hand, supplies of Azerbaijani gas can be expanded. On the other, the overall trend in the EU is to reduce imports of oil and gas and to shift toward renewable energy sources. Nonetheless, the project enjoys strong political support from the European Commission and a number of Southeast European countries,” the expert stressed.

In conclusion, Terterov reminded that the Southern Gas Corridor is a network of energy infrastructure designed to transport natural gas.

“It connects Azerbaijan’s resource base with Georgia, then runs through Turkey via the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), and continues into Europe. It is a large-scale system stretching several thousand kilometers, financially supported by a number of international financial institutions,” he concluded.

Hayal Khatamzadeh