The European Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijan to double imports of Azeri natural gas to at least 20 billion cubic metres (bcm) a year by 2027.
The MoU was signed by the EC President Ursula von der Leyen and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on Monday in Baku, according to the press release issued at the EC official website.
The EC President started a visit to the Azerbaijani capital Monday morning for talks on increasing energy supplies to the EU.
“Azerbaijan is a crucial energy partner for us that has always been reliable,” von der Leyen said at a joint news conference with Ilham Aliyev.
The deal provides for the increase of gas flow into the EU through the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC).
Azerbaijan is already now increasing deliveries of natural gas to the EU, from 8.1 billion cubic meters in 2021 to an expected 12 bcm in 2022, according to the statement.
Azerbaijan, which borders Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Russia, Iran and the Caspian Sea, started exporting natural gas to Europe via the SGC at the end of 2020.
Azerbaijan currently imports Turkmen natural gas in accordance with the trilateral gas swap agreement between Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. The discussion are currently underway to increase the swap supplies of Turkmen natural gas to Azerbaijan and establish new swap gas deliveries to other countries.