Azerbaijan to boost gas export to Europe - Aliyev

BAKU. May 22 (Interfax) - Azerbaijan will boost gas export to Europe, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said.

"Azerbaijan is taking various serious steps to transport natural gas to European markets. The amount of gas exported [from Azerbaijan] has been growing every year and will continue to grow," Aliyev said in a press statement on Monday following negotiations with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Vilnius.

Aliyev thanked Lithuania for its effort to promote Azerbaijani-EU relations.

"As we had an extensive exchange of views today, we addressed many important topics and reaffirmed our strategic partnership. President Nauseda paid an official visit to Azerbaijan last year, and I am paying an official visit to Lithuania this year. We also met in Davos at the beginning of this year. This is proof of our very active political dialogue, which also bears tangible results," Aliyev said.

Political agreements have a positive effect on all other areas, Aliyev said. "We very much hope that the work done in economic and trade areas will be as dynamic in the coming years as it has been on the political level. I have no doubt that today's business forum will serve as an important step in that direction," he said.

As reported, Azerbaijan increased gas exports by 18% to 22.3 billion cubic meters in 2022, including 11.4 bcm delivered to Europe (+39%).

Azerbaijan is planning to export 24.5 bcm of gas this year, including 12 bcm to Europe.

Baku and the EU have agreed to increase the annual supply of Azerbaijani gas to the EU market to 20 bcm by 2027.