Azerbaijan imported more than 292.85 million cubic meters (mcm) of natural gas from Turkmenistan in January-June 2022, the Interfax-Azerbaijan news agency reported on Thursday with reference to the Azerbaijani Government.
Turkmen natural gas exports to Azerbaijan during the period amounted to more than $31.88 million.
In the first half of 2022, Azerbaijan imported a total of more than 358.94 mcm of natural gas, a 33.5% more compared to the same period of last year. The imports of natural gas amounted to over $34.39 million, a 3.4-fold jump compared to the first half of 2021.
Turkmen gas accounted for 81.6% of the total natural gas imports, while the rest came from Iran over 66.91 mcm for more than $2.5 million.
In January-June 2021, gas imports to Azerbaijan were carried out only from Iran. Compared to the same period last year, the supply of Iranian gas decreased by 75.4%.
Azerbaijan currently imports Turkmen natural gas in accordance with the trilateral gas swap agreement between Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. The agreement provides for the supply of 1.5-2 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas per year to Azerbaijan through Iran.
In early June 2022, Economy Minister of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov and Iranian Oil Minister Javad Ovji signed a memorandum of understanding in Baku, under which gas supplies from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan via Iran will be doubled.