Azerbaijani President: Azerbaijan wants to supply electricity to European market too - the only route runs through Georgia and Turkey, we must expand these capabilities

Azerbaijan has already prepared a project envisaging the construction of power transmission lines from Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan via Armenia, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with local media in Nakhchivan.

Aliyev noted that the country’s electricity grid is currently interconnected with Russia, Iran, Georgia and Turkey via Georgia.

“Today our power grid is interconnected with Russia, Iran, Georgia, and with Turkey through Georgia. Thus, the energy corridor running through Armenia to Nakhchivan, and from there onward to Türkiye and Europe, would also help ensure the stability of Armenia’s energy system in the event of a crisis. Therefore, the sooner we implement this, the better”, the President said.

He described Azerbaijan as the only country in the region with substantial oil, gas and electricity resources, stressing the country’s role in ensuring energy security.

“I repeat, in our region, there is no other country that is as comprehensively supplied with energy as Azerbaijan, whether in terms of oil and gas or electricity. By expanding our export capabilities to neighboring countries, we will at the same time gain access to the European market. Because we have already reached Europe with our oil and gas, but we also wish to reach the European market with electricity”,he continued.

“Today, the only existing route is through Georgia and Turkey, and from there onward to Europe. We must expand these capabilities. In particular, the feasibility study for the Black Sea energy cable project is ready. However, having a second transmission line will only strengthen our capacity. Moreover, as you likely recall, in November 2024, during COP29, the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and I agreed to lay an underwater electricity cable across the Caspian Sea and signed an agreement. That is to say, we must be prepared for that as well”, he added.

Speaking about the Zangezur Corridor, Aliyev said the transportation of 15 million tons of cargo, or potentially more, through the corridor would generate additional economic activity and create jobs.

“Of course, the transit of, say, 15 million tons or perhaps more of cargo through here will generate much greater activity. More jobs will be created, economic activity will increase, and I can say that Nakhchivan will become an indispensable transport hub. This is entirely possible. Naturally, when we put forward the idea and initiative for the Zangezur Corridor, first and foremost, we had the transport component in mind. But today, we view it in a broader context”, he concluded.