Aliyev, U.S. diplomat discuss enlargement of Azerbaijani gas supply to Europe

BAKU. May 31 (Interfax) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Diplomacy Laura Lochmann met in Baku on Tuesday to discuss increasing gas supplies to Europe among other issues.

"The meeting addressed the operation of the Southern Gas Corridor. The role played by Azerbaijan in the provision of European energy security and diversified gas supply was underscored. The sides exchanged views on an enlargement of gas exports from Azerbaijan to Europe," a statement, published on the Azerbaijani presidential website, said.

Aliyev and Lochmann noted the successful development of Azerbaijani-U.S. relations in various areas. "The Azerbaijani leader lauded the continuous support of Baku by Washington in global energy projects. In the course of the meeting, the sides discussed the extensive efforts taken by Azerbaijan in the fields of electric power and renewable energy," the statement said.

Azerbaijan started supplying gas to Europe on December 30, 2020. A total of 8.2 bcm of natural gas was supplied from Azerbaijan to Italy, Greece and Bulgaria in 2021. Azerbaijani gas supplies to Europe increased in 2022.