Expert: Azerbaijani gas provides further EU energy security

Azerbaijan is a source of energy security for European countries, including Bulgaria and Romania, Romanian expert, analyst, director of Smartlink Communications Radu Magdin said.

"This agreement, which will be signed in Sofia, is part of a bigger, long-standing Romanian energy plan that emphasizes diversification - in terms of both transportation methods and supply sources - while also emphasizing the connection between the countries - within the EU (e.g. the Vertical Corridor), but also with partners in the Eastern Neighborhood such as Azerbaijan - to increase resilience and better withstand energy crises. It has the potential to become a significant step for the EU, as the bloc is actively cutting back and eliminating energy dependency on Russia, while speeding up its ambitious transition to green energy,” the expert noted.

"As I often mentioned, Azerbaijani gas for Europe, including for Bulgaria and Romania, provides an important dimension of energy diversification and further security and independence. With the unprovoked war waged by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, it is clear that Europe’s dependency on Moscow cannot continue in an environment of threat and instability, which affects market mechanisms. Therefore, it is only natural for the EU to search for viable alternatives that would also allow for long-term cooperation on green energy. Therefore, Azerbaijani gas for the EU is not just a short-term solution, but a wider, mutually-beneficial chapter,” he added.

"If the agreement leads to practical deliveries, it will be a beneficial development. Apart from the fact that it brings together countries in the Eastern part of the EU, with Türkiye (as a critical transit country) and Azerbaijan (as a reliable supplier), this initiative is advantageous because there is already infrastructure in place for gas to reach Europe, by using the route of the old Trans Balkan pipeline, through which Russia delivered gas via Ukraine and Romania to Bulgaria, Greece, Türkiye and North Macedonia.”

"It is thus a direct contribution to Europe’s energy security which, at the same time, complements other initiatives of Romania: the BRUA gas pipeline (a new infrastructure now fully operational), the gas and electricity interconnection projects with Moldova and the undersea Black Sea electricity cable (a recent initiative developed by Romania with Azerbaijan, Georgia and Hungary). And completed by Romania’s efforts to develop indigenous energy resources (e.g. offshore gas) and renewables,” said the expert.

"While Romania aims to further support vulnerable regional partners, including Moldova, it is important to develop a network of trust-based energy partnerships. There are opportunities for all the countries in the Eastern Neighborhood to explore joint production and investments in this sector.”

On April 25-26, Sofia will host a signing ceremony for a large-scale agreement to expand the gas infrastructure. It is expected that the document will be signed by Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia. This agreement will allow delivering gas from Azerbaijan through Bulgaria to Central Europe.

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