Azerbaijan could increase gas supplies to North Macedonia in future - Aliyev

BAKU. March 11 (Interfax) - Azerbaijan could increase gas supplies to North Macedonia, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said after a meeting with Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, President of the Republic of North Macedonia.

"A positive sign in recent months has been the fact that the two countries have started cooperating in the energy sector. Azerbaijani gas has already reached the market of North Macedonia, which happened at the end of last year, and this year, Azerbaijan will regularly supply your market with natural gas. In the future, we can increase gas supplies to the required volume. We are working hard on commissioning new gas fields today," Aliyev said in a press statement.

Azerbaijan currently exports natural gas to 12 countries, and geographically, "our customers" are located in Eurasia, Aliyev said. He said ten of these 12 countries were European nations.

Last year, Azerbaijan exported 25 billion cubic meters of gas to foreign markets. "Of course, we produce more than this. We also meet local demand. However, expanding the scope and geographical reach of our gas exports is also on the agenda," Aliyev said.

"Today, Azerbaijani gas contributes to the energy security of many European countries, and we have always attached great importance to the requests of our European partners. In other words, bilateral cooperation in the energy sector is very important to us, and I do hope that this practical cooperation will pave the way for collaboration in other areas as well," he said.

Siljanovska-Davkova said in her statement that North Macedonia was keen to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan is noted not only for its important location on the international geopolitical stage but also for the fact that it is becoming a very appealing partner in terms of natural gas and renewable energy, which small countries like ours need. Let me emphasize again what I said to Mr. President - we are waiting for a step forward and will sign a declaration or agreement on cooperation. This does not mean that we will receive assistance from Azerbaijan only in gas supplies; there will also be ample opportunities for economic cooperation," she said.

The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) and Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM), the state-owned electricity company of North Macedonia, signed a memorandum of understanding on gas supplies during the COP29 conference in November last year.

"The cooperation is aimed at increasing the availability and purchasing options of natural gas in order to ensure stable and undisrupted supplies at competitive prices," ESM said.