Azerbaijan’s Energy Strategy Highlighted at Handelsblatt Annual Gas Conference
At the Handelsblatt Annual Gas Conference on September 17, 2025, in Berlin, Azerbaijan’s role as a reliable energy partner for Europe was underlined. At the invitation of the renowned business newspaper Handelsblatt, the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Germany, Nasimi Aghayev, delivered the keynote speech “Azerbaijan’s Contribution to European Energy Security in Geopolitically Challenging Times.”
The ambassador recalled that with the “Contract of the Century” signed in 1994, shortly after Azerbaijan’s independence, the country reshaped energy cooperation in the Caspian region. This agreement opened market access for Western companies and enabled long-term strategic partnerships.
A key element of these partnerships is the Southern Gas Corridor—a pipeline system more than 3,500 kilometers long, comprising the South Caucasus Pipeline, the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline, and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, which directly connects Azerbaijan’s vast gas fields with Europe. Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz field alone holds an estimated 1.2 trillion cubic meters of reserves. Thanks to its scalability, the corridor can safely and efficiently transport even larger volumes in the future.
Aghayev emphasized that in 2024 Azerbaijan exported 25.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas, nearly 13 billion cubic meters of which went to Europe—an increase of more than 50 percent in just two years. Today, the country supplies 14 nations, including 11 in Europe, 9 of which are EU members. This, he said, shows that Azerbaijan is not merely serving individual markets but is an integral part of Europe’s energy supply.
The ambassador also highlighted cooperation with Germany. Long-term supply agreements with Uniper and SEFE (Securing Energy for Europe) guarantee Germany around 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. Despite geopolitical tensions and global supply chain issues, Azerbaijan has not interrupted a single delivery.
Aghayev further referred to the initialed peace agreement and joint declaration between Azerbaijan and Armenia, signed in August 2025 in Washington. This step opens new prospects for stability, transport and trade routes, and joint infrastructure projects.
Looking to the future, Aghayev announced the gradual conversion of the Southern Gas Corridor to carry green hydrogen as well, with the first pilot projects already planned. At the same time, Azerbaijan is investing heavily in renewable energy: in collaboration with international partners, projects totaling over 10 gigawatts of capacity have been agreed upon.
He also underlined the strategic importance of the Black Sea Undersea Cable, which will deliver green electricity from Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus directly to Europe. The initial transmission capacity is planned at four gigawatts, with the option to double it. This project will become a key component of Europe’s energy transition.
In conclusion, Aghayev made clear that Azerbaijan is evolving from an oil and gas supplier to a comprehensive energy partner for Europe—a bridge between the Caspian Sea and the EU internal market, linking fossil and renewable energy. The goal is to ensure both supply security and climate neutrality, thereby enabling stability, growth, and sustainable progress.
A short video of the event can be found here: https://youtu.be/9AzA0XNlbuY?feature=shared
