EU ready to expand energy cooperation with Azerbaijan - Commissioner

BAKU. Feb 3 (Interfax) - The EU is interested in expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan in natural gas and electricity, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said.

"The EU is interested in expanding relations with Azerbaijan in the field of natural gas, green energy, at the same time, highly values its cooperation with Azerbaijan regarding electricity, is studying it, and is ready [for interaction] in this direction," Simson said in Baku on Friday at a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The President of Azerbaijan then recalled that according to the document on strategic partnership in the energy sector signed between the EU and Azerbaijan, Baku intends to increase gas production by 2027. At the same time, the head of state noted the possibility of entering new markets in Europe through interconnectors created among EU countries.

Azerbaijan started exporting gas to Europe on December 31, 2020. Currently, the buyers of Azerbaijani gas in the EU are Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. There is also another group of countries that want to buy gas from Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan increased gas exports 18% to 22.3 billion cubic meters in 2022. At the same time, Azerbaijani gas supplies to Europe increased 39% to 11.4 billion cubic meters, which is 51% of the country's total exports.