EU to double its gasoline deliveries from Azerbaijan in bid to exchange Russian provide

Breanne Deppisch

July 18, 01:32 PM July 18, 01:32 PM

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Monday that the European Union has signed a deal with Azerbaijan to double its gasoline imports to “at least” 20 billion cubic meters by 2027 as the bloc scrambles to safe substitute supplies in advance of a feared Russian cutoff.

Speaking to reporters in Baku this morning, von der Leyen described Azerbaijan as a “crucial power partner” for the EU and pointed out the urgency for the bloc “to diversify away from Russia and to turn to a lot more reliable, honest suppliers.”

In accordance to a joint memo of understanding signed by von der Leyen and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, the offer will extra than double the EU’s purely natural fuel imports from Azerbaijan, which in 2021 totaled just 8.1 billion cubic meters.

Presently, Azerbaijan has been on monitor to raise its deliveries to the EU, which are anticipated to access as substantially as 12 billion cubic meters by the end of 2022.

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Leaders explained the new materials will be delivered by means of the Southern Gasoline Corridor, the system of pipelines that connection Azerbaijan to Europe.

European leaders are functioning to secure vitality possibilities to Russian oil forward of winter season.

“Amid Russia’s ongoing weaponization of its electricity provides, diversification of our power imports is a top priority for the EU,” the European Commission said in a statement released Friday in advance of von der Leyen’s journey to Baku.

The memo also outlines attempts to lower methane emissions by means of the gas source chain and boost financial commitment in the EU’s thoroughly clean energy goals.