Azerbaijan delivers natural gas to Ukraine via Trans-Balkan pipeline

Ukraine’s Naftogaz Group said on Monday it had signed its first agreement with SOCAR Energy Ukraine, part of Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, for the purchase of Azerbaijani natural gas.

The gas was delivered through the Trans-Balkan pipeline via Bulgaria, Romania, and into Ukraine, sources told haqqin.az. The shipment has already arrived and is likely being injected into underground storage.

“It was a one-off test shipment. It's too early to speak about regular deliveries,” one source said.

Naftogaz financed the purchase using credit lines previously approved by Ukrgasbank and PrivatBank, each allocating $113 million to support gas purchases ahead of the 2025/2026 heating season.

Volume and price details were not disclosed due to confidentiality.

Naftogaz CEO Serhiy Koretsky said the move was “small in volume but strategically important,” calling it a step toward long-term cooperation and enhanced energy security for Ukraine.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine Seymur Mardaliyev met with newly appointed Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk to discuss bilateral energy cooperation.