Azerbaijan plans to supply gas to Balkans after launch of Ionian Adriatic Pipeline - Aliyev

BAKU. Sept 2 (Interfax) - The launch of the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) will allow Azerbaijan to supply gas to three countries of the Balkans, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said.

Gas has become one of the main issues on the European agenda since the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, Aliyev said on Friday at the 48th Intelligence on the World, Europe, and Italy international forum in Italy's Cernobbio.

"There are a lot of projects, one of which is Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria. Another similar project is the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline. Azerbaijani gas will be supplied through this pipeline to three Balkan countries," Aliyev said, adding that Baku has received official requests from over ten countries, including Georgia, Turkey, Italy, and Bulgaria, either for an increase in gas supplies or for the start of supplies.

Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania signed a declaration on the IAP in 2007, and the pipeline should be connected to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, through which Azerbaijani gas is currently supplied to Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria. The IAP will be 530 kilometers long with a throughput capacity of 5 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The estimated cost of the project is 610 million euros. The pipeline should go through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, connecting the Croatian city of Split and the Albanian city of Fier. The pipeline is to be launched in 2025. State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic is a technical consultant on the IAP.

Aliyev said earlier that Azerbaijan was prepared to supply gas to the Western Balkans provided contracts and infrastructure were in place.

Azerbaijan exported 8.2 bcm of gas to Europe in 2021 and will supply 12 bcm in 2022. Exports of Azerbaijani gas are to total 24 bcm overall in 2022 compared to 22 bcm in 2021.