‘Southern Gas Corridor enables secure, reliable and competitive supply of gas from Azerbaijan to Europe’: Joint statement from ministerial meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council

On 11 February, the 7th ministerial meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council took place in Baku via videoconference, co-chaired by Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Parviz Shahbazov, and European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, as well as European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi.

The participants acknowledged the strategic energy partnership between Azerbaijan and the EU, and welcomed the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor project and the start of gas supplies from Azerbaijan to the European Union. This historic achievement was built on the strong cooperation between the governments, international institutions, financial lender organisations, operators of upstream ventures and transportation systems, contractor companies, communities and local authorities along the entire 3500km long value chain, says the Joint Statement of Shahbazov, Simson and Várhelyi, issued after the meeting.

“We recognise the Southern Gas Corridor as an important new transmission system, which enables secure, reliable and competitive supply of gas from the Shah Deniz field in the Republic of Azerbaijan to Europe,” says the Joint Statement. “It serves the strategic goal of enhancing the energy security of European countries, further facilitating the integration of the European energy market and contributing to the operational connectivity of gas networks across Southern and Central Europe.”

The participants stressed the fundamental role of the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan for its long-term commitment to the implementation of the Corridor to secure diversified and stable gas deliveries to Europe and to bring the benefits of greater economic partnership. They also supported the efforts of all interested partners to explore the possibility of extension of the Southern Gas Corridor towards new energy markets based on technical, regulatory and commercial opportunities, including the Western Balkans, as they progress in their transition towards a de-carbonised energy system.

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