Germany in talks with Azerbaijan to increase gas imports
Clean Energy Wire
Germany and Azerbaijan are exploring increasing gas imports from the South Caucasian country, chancellor Friedrich Merz said following a meeting with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev in Berlin.
“I am grateful to president Aliyev that we were able to discuss this today and explore the possibilities of sourcing even more gas from Azerbaijan,” he said at a press conference. Energy flows, including gas, were part of a joint partnership declaration that the two countries signed, and would form part of the further discussions between the governments, Merz said, without providing details.
“Cooperation regarding the supply of crude oil and natural gas via the Southern Gas Corridor is of particular importance, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East,” Merz said. “We aim to further diversify our energy supply with Azerbaijan in this regard.”
Germany has sought to diversify its energy supply partners following the start of the war against Ukraine, which resulted in the halt of Russian gas deliveries to Germany, and triggered a wider energy crisis.
In the joint declaration, the countries said they would leverage “the full potential of cooperation” in areas such as green energy, green and low-carbon hydrogen, energy efficiency, as well as increased collaboration on connectivity, infrastructure, and energy flows.
Aliyev said greater investment was necessary for pipeline infrastructure to increase energy exports. “We need new connections, new pipelines now. That requires funds for investments,” he said, calling on the European Investment Bank (EIB) to provide the necessary financing. The EIB has generally stopped financing of fossil fuel projects.
Azerbaijan began exporting natural gas to Germany this year, Aliyev said, noting that several EU countries were now supplied with Azerbaijani gas – “a development that naturally makes a tremendous contribution to energy security,” he said. “Azerbaijan also exports its oil to Germany, and in the future, so-called green energy will also be exported to the EU.”