Italy to receive 9.6 bcm of gas from Azerbaijan in 2024 - ministry

BAKU. July 2 (Interfax) - Italy will receive 9.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Azerbaijan in 2024, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy said.

"Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov met with Italian Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin in Milan on Tuesday. Extensive cooperation in the energy sector and expansion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) were discussed at the meeting," it said.

The ministry said Italy had so far received 30 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas out of 37.9 bcm supplied to Europe via the TAP.

"During the meeting, it was noted that Azerbaijan is among the top three suppliers of gas to Italy. Supplies of Azerbaijani gas to Italy this year are projected at 9.6 billion cubic meters, and the expansion of TAP capacity by 1.2 billion cubic meters from 2026 will strengthen cooperation between the two countries in energy security and decarbonization," it said.

Italy also expressed interest in supplies of green energy from Azerbaijan along the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe energy corridor.

"During the meeting, the prospects for the supply of renewable energy [to Europe] were evaluated. The ministers also discussed cooperation with the Italian company Ansaldo Energia to provide equipment to the 1,280 MW Azerbaijani thermal power plant and substations," the statement said.

Supplies of Azerbaijani gas to Europe via the TAP began on December 31, 2020.Azerbaijan currently exports gas in Europe to Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Serbia, but some other countries in Europe have expressed interest in purchasing Azerbaijani gas.

Azerbaijan exported 23.8 bcm of gas in 2023, up 5.3% from 2022, with exports to Europe rising 3.5% to 11.8 bcm.

Forecast gas exports from Azerbaijan in 2024 are 24.3 billion cubic meters, half of which will go to Europe.