Nov 15, 2023. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
A meeting
was held between Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov and a delegation led by
Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia Dubravka Djedović Handanović, who is on
a visit to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the ministry.
The important role of friendly relations between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Serbia in the comprehensive development of relations based on strategic partnerships between the two countries was emphasised at the meeting. Extensive cooperation opportunities in the fields of natural gas and electricity were evaluated. It was noted that energy cooperation is of exceptional importance for the development of bilateral relations at a new level, and in this regard, Azerbaijan and Serbia attach great importance to partnerships in the field of natural gas.
Within the
meeting, a “Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Energy of the
Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of
Serbia on promoting cooperation between SOCAR and Srbijagas, as well as an
agreement on gas sales between SOCAR and Srbijagas was signed.
Energy
Minister Parviz Shahbazov said: "With the documents of strategic
importance we signed today, we are laying the foundation for multifaceted
cooperation in the field of gas, including gas supplies from Azerbaijan to
Serbia for the first time. Serbia is Azerbaijan's new partner in diversifying
the gas market in Europe. With the supply of up to 400 million cubic metres of
gas per annum to Serbia, the number of countries supplied with Azerbaijani gas
will reach 8. This is a clear indication of expanding Azerbaijan's mission as a
reliable energy partner and its growing role in energy security. Today's
agreements also pave the way for the sustainability of our gas supply
partnership with long-term contracts and Azerbaijan's contributions to Serbia's
energy security.”
The
Minister of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia, Dubravka Djedović
Handanović said: "Today, Serbia and Azerbaijan have opened a new chapter
in their economic and bilateral cooperation by signing a contract on the
volumes of gas that Azerbaijan will supply to Serbia. After the supply of
Azerbaijani gas to Serbia via the Bulgaria-Serbia Interconnector, which is
expected to be commissioned in the near future, we are going to achieve our
strategic goal of diversifying our sources of supply for this energy source and
further bolstering our role as a transit country for gas distribution to
Central Europe. The signed contract outlines the delivery of 400 million cubic
metres of gas in the next year, and we expect these volumes to increase further
in the coming years."
SOCAR
President Rovshan Najaf stressed that the gas contract will open a new page in
cooperation between SOCAR and Srbijagas. He noted the importance of successful
implementation of the contract in strengthening Serbia's energy security, as
well as relations between the two countries and companies.
It should
be noted that, in addition to gas supplies, the Memorandum of Understanding
provides for the supply of LNG to Serbia, cooperation with SOCAR in gas storage
areas, the company's participation in gas trading operations, as well as the
construction of gas power plants.
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