SOCAR to invest $0.5 bln in AI integration for managing gas network in Azerbaijan

BAKU. Feb 7 (Interfax) - Investment in the implementation of a state-of-the-art gas network management system using artificial intelligence in Azerbaijan is estimated at $480 million, advisor to the president of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) Elchin Agakishiev said.

"During the COP29 conference, an agreement was reached to implement the IntelliGrid AI system in the gas distribution network operated by the Azerigaz production association [part of SOCAR]. The project, which aims to reduce gas leaks, is valued at $480 million," Agakishiev said when speaking at the IADC Drilling Caspian 2025 conference in Baku on Friday.

The company has committed to fully eliminating routine gas flaring at all of its facilities and reducing the intensity of emissions in upstream assets by 30% compared to 2022 levels by 2030, as well as cutting the intensity of corporate emissions by 30% and absolute emissions by 20% by 2035, he said.

"We also aim to reduce methane emissions to below 0.2% in upstream assets by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050," he said.

It was previously reported that SOCAR and IntelliGrid (UAE, a joint venture of Esyasoft Holding and Presight) signed an agreement on November 11, 2024, for creating a gas network management system. The project will cover all the facilities of Azerigaz.

IntelliGrid AI will be used for integrating data analysis, predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring into the gas distribution network. It is expected that this will optimize gas consumption, minimize losses and improve overall operational efficiency.