"President Ilham Aliyev's speech within the framework of the Southern Gas Corridor and Green Energy Advisory Councils clearly demonstrates Azerbaijan's position on the modern world energy map and the strategic roadmap it has defined for the coming decades. This speech is not merely a report on work done, but also a political statement confirming that the country's energy diplomacy has entered a new qualitative stage".
Modern.az reports that this was stated by Milli Majlis deputy Azer Karimli.
According to the deputy, one of the notable points in the President's speech is that the number of countries importing Azerbaijani gas has reached 16:
"Specifically, Azerbaijan's rise to a leading position in the world due to the geography of gas supply via pipelines strengthens Baku's status as a reliable and long-term partner. The expansion of supply routes beyond European borders to regions such as Syria indicates that Azerbaijan acts as an energy player driven not only by commercial interests but also by social and humanitarian responsibility.
In his speech, the President also announced specific production targets for the near future. These include the development of deep gas layers of the “Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli” field, a threefold increase in production within the second phase of the “Absheron” field, as well as the implementation of new phases for the “Shah Deniz” and “Umid” fields. Gas production is projected to increase by an additional 10–15 billion cubic meters through these projects. Furthermore, the head of state draws attention to a fundamental point: increased production can only yield a real economic effect if the transmission capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor is expanded and the interconnector network is broadened. This indicates that energy diplomacy requires more intensive coordination in the next phase.
In the speech, the green energy transition is presented as a distinct and strategic priority. Although Azerbaijan possesses rich gas reserves, it does not intend to base its energy policy solely on traditional energy resources. Cooperation with global companies such as “ACWA Power” and “Masdar”, and the target of creating 6–8 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2032, demonstrate the country's commitment to its ecological obligations and long-term energy transformation. The “pragmatism and realism” approach emphasized by the President – meaning the parallel development of gas and green energy – can be assessed as the most rational model in the context of the current global energy crisis".
Azer Karimli stated that Azerbaijan is no longer merely a raw material exporter, but also acts as a stakeholder and investor in international energy infrastructure:
"The acquisition of an 870 MW power plant in Turkey, the agreement with Serbia on the construction of a new power plant, as well as participation in oil refining enterprises with a total capacity of 22 million tons in Italy and Turkey, strengthen the country's positions in various links of the energy chain. This strategy serves to diversify revenue sources and systematically increase Azerbaijan's role in Europe's energy security.
The expansion of cooperation prospects in the fields of energy, artificial intelligence, and data centers within the framework of the Strategic Partnership Charter signed with the USA indicates Azerbaijan's intention to align its energy policy with technological modernization. This level of partnership with a leading global power further increases the country's regional geopolitical weight and directly links energy security with the national security concept.
Overall, President Ilham Aliyev's speech reflects a consistent political will towards strengthening Azerbaijan's energy sovereignty, integrating the hydropower potential of the liberated territories into the economic cycle, and forming a “green bridge” model connecting the Caspian basin with Europe".
