On May 2, Parviz Shahbazov, Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister, stated that Europe must support long-term contract mechanisms to secure substantial gas supplies.

During the ministerial session on "Changing Dynamics in Supply Security: Challenges and Opportunities" at the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit, Shahbazov emphasized that without such mechanisms, significant investments in gas production remain risky due to the lack of guarantees for delivery and market sales. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s strategic role as a reliable supplier of oil and natural gas under current conditions and noted the country’s plans to supply approximately 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Türkiye this year. “Türkiye is not only a consumer for us but also holds great importance as a transit country. It is through this route that Azerbaijan delivers energy resources to European countries,” Shahbazov stated.

The minister criticized anti-hydrocarbon policies for hindering gas supply initiatives by reducing investments and infrastructure development within the global energy system. He stressed the need to set aside political and ideological biases in energy policy, noting that, with a growing global population and rising energy demands, “we will not have the luxury of wasting energy.” Shahbazov underscored Azerbaijan’s commitment to developing all forms of energy and mentioned that several regional projects have been initiated, which, if realized, will enhance both energy security and environmental outcomes.

Addressing green energy interconnectors, Shahbazov highlighted Azerbaijan’s cooperation with Türkiye, Georgia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Central Asian countries. “These projects will not only connect regions but also advance both energy and climate security. They represent the energy projects of the future,” the minister concluded.

Azerbaijani Energy Minister Meets with Turkish, Iraqi, Syrian, and Somali Officials at Istanbul Summit

On May 2, Parviz Shahbazov, Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister, held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit with officials from Türkiye, Iraq, Syria, and Somalia.

According to the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry, during the meeting with Alparslan Bayraktar, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, both sides expressed satisfaction with the extensive and systematic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye in oil, gas, electricity, and renewable energy. They highlighted the importance of transmitting 250 MW of electricity to Türkiye via Georgia and reviewed progress on the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Türkiye-Bulgaria Green Energy Corridor and other joint projects. They also discussed preparations for the 4th Azerbaijan-Türkiye Energy Forum, scheduled for September in Izmir, and confirmed Bayraktar’s participation in Baku Energy Week in June.

In a separate meeting with Hayan Abdul-Ghani Al-Sawad, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Oil Minister, the historical ties between Azerbaijan and Iraq were emphasized as a foundation for expanding energy cooperation. The two sides exchanged views on oil market regulation within the OPEC+ framework and underscored the importance of signing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the oil and gas sectors. Priority projects for bilateral energy collaboration were also reviewed.

During the meeting with Dahir Shire Mohamed, Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, discussions focused on implementing an existing memorandum of understanding concerning cooperation in green energy, oil, and gas sectors, as well as training specialists in the oil and gas field. Potential new areas for cooperation were also explored.

Lastly, Shahbazov met with Muhammed Al-Bashir, Syria’s Minister of Energy, where they evaluated opportunities for developing energy sector cooperation between Azerbaijan and Syria.