Azerbaijan, Slovenia explore increasing gas supplies through TAP pipeline by 1.2 billion cubic meters

Parviz Shahbazov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, embarked on a working visit to Slovenia at the invitation of the country’s Minister of Environment, Climate and Energy Bojan Kumer.

During the visit, the Azerbaijani Energy Minister also held meetings with leading energy companies of Slovenia – Geoplin, Petrol Group, Plinovodi and HSE.

The Slovenian Minister Bojan Kumer expressed satisfaction with the development of Azerbaijani–Slovenian bilateral relations, which will mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, and the dynamics of mutual visits. The sides particularly underscored the recent rapid and productive development of relations in the field of energy.

In this vein, they emphasized the importance of signing a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation between the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy of the Republic of Slovenia, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding on the supply of natural gas between SOCAR and Geoplin.

The ministers noted that the start of supply of Azerbaijani natural gas to Slovenia is a tangible result of energy cooperation and a crucial contribution to the energy security of Europe, as well as to the diversification of supplies.

Describing Azerbaijan as a reliable and trusted partner, Bojan Kumer said that last year the gas supplied from Azerbaijan accounted for about 5 percent of Slovenia's total gas consumption, expressing Slovenia’s willingness to expand cooperation in terms of increasing these volumes.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on Slovenia's energy policy priorities, Azerbaijan's energy strategy and the progress made within the framework of strategic partnership with the European Union, the development of infrastructure to increase gas supplies, the signing of long-term contracts and the provision of necessary conditions such as financing.

The meeting also saw discussions on the plan to increase gas supplies by 2026 through the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) by 1.2 billion cubic meters, as well as on a long-term basis, the possibilities of gas supply to Slovenia, prospects for the development of production and transportation projects, regional energy security and strengthening mutual consultations.

The meeting assessed Azerbaijan’s energy integration with Europe in the terms of such projects as the Caspian–Black Sea–European Green Energy Corridor, the Azerbaijan–Georgia–Türkiye–Bulgaria interconnector and the Central Asia–Azerbaijan Energy Corridor. They said that these projects open up great opportunities for new trade routes, energy security and regional cooperation through the Caspian Sea. The meeting also reviewed the prospects for green energy collaboration between the two countries.

The meetings with Simon Urbancl, CEO of Geoplin; Sašo Berger, President of the Management Board of Petrol Group; Marjan Eberlinc, CEO of Plinovodi; and Tomaž Štokelj, CEO of HSE, discussed cooperation in oil, natural gas and green energy supplies. The meetings reviewed Slovenia's energy consumption, oil, gas and electricity supply, establishment and strengthening of natural gas transmission links with neighbouring countries, as well as measures taken to increase electricity production from renewable energy sources, including solar and wind energy. The sides also discussed expansion of bilateral energy cooperation. Minister Shahbazov invited the Slovenian companies to participate in Azerbaijan’s green energy projects as investors and offtakers of this energy.