Azerbaijani energy minister holds several meetings within Fifth Ministerial Meeting of Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council

Azerbaijan`s Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov held several meetings within Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) Advisory Council. According to the ministry, the meeting with European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources Günther Oettinger, focused on energy cooperation with the European Union, prospects for expanding the Southern Gas Corridor. The sides stressed the benefits of the event with the participation of Balkan countries. At the meeting with the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Natia Turnava the sides discussed the role of this country as a project member, transit benefits of the Southern Gas Corridor and its contribution to economic development, stressing the importance of expanding cooperation in the field of electric power. Parviz Shahbazov also met with Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey Fatih Donmez to discuss regional and global significance of TANAP and other projects, development of renewable energy cooperation, the necessity of exchange of experience. “Bulgaria is the country to support the Southern Gas Corridor project from the first day. Bulgaria is a buyer of Shahdeniz gas and an important country in diversifying the Southern Gas Corridor”, said Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, as she met Azerbaijan`s Energy Minister. Temenuzhka Petkova emphasized that both Greece-Bulgaria interconnector and other connecting pipelines, starting with Bulgaria, will further diversify supplies to other countries in the South East Europe and Central Europe. At the meeting with Deputy Minister for Economic Development of Italy Andrea Cioffi, Parviz Shahbazov hailed the participation and position of Italy in Advisory Council, stressing the importance of expanding cooperation between the two countries in the renewable energy sector. In turn, Andrea Cioffi expressed his country's interest in diversifying the Southern Gas Corridor project and pointed out that TAP would contribute to the development of the Balkan countries gas pipeline network. The delegation led by Turkey-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group, Samil Ayrim also met with Parviz Shahbazov. The sides discussed joint energy projects with the participation of the two countries.