Azerbaijan signals expanded gas and renewable energy exports to Europe at Dublin summit

Azerbaijan said on Thursday that it plans to increase and diversify its energy supplies to Europe, using the European Political Community summit in Dublin to underline its role as a growing supplier. President Ilham Aliyev said the country wants to expand deliveries beyond the current 10 European Union member states it already serves. The comments came during talks with European Council President Antonio Costa on the sidelines of the summit.

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According to the Azerbaijani presidency, the two leaders discussed long-term energy contracts in the context of continued cooperation on gas supplies between Azerbaijan and the European Union. Costa said the resumption of negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan agreement was good news for citizens, and described the relationship as an important one for both sides. He also said the EU was investing in regional stability and in benefits for people across the South Caucasus.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan had increased gas exports to the European Union from 8 billion cubic metres to 13 billion cubic metres. He said those exports now account for nearly half of Azerbaijan's total exports. He also said new field discoveries would allow the country to raise gas supplies further, while the existing pipeline route from Baku to Italy is already operating at full capacity.

The route passes through seven countries and supplies EU markets through interconnectors in Bulgaria. The talks also reflected a broader shift in Azerbaijan's energy strategy. Alongside gas, the country is now focusing on renewable energy exports, which Aliyev described as a strategic national objective.

He pointed to an agreement between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Bulgaria on exporting renewable energy to European markets. That adds a new dimension to the country's energy diplomacy, which has increasingly linked supply security, infrastructure and regional cooperation. The discussions in Dublin also touched on transport and connectivity, including the Nakhchivan railway project and the wider Middle Corridor linking Asia to Europe through the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

Costa and Aliyev said the European Union's assessment of the railway project would be completed soon. The summit therefore served not only as a venue for energy talks, but also for wider discussions on trade routes and regional integration. What remains unclear is how quickly Azerbaijan can translate these plans into additional export volumes, and how much of the expansion will come from gas versus renewable power.

The timing and terms of any new EU-Azerbaijan agreement were not announced. Further detail is also expected on the capacity of existing infrastructure and on the next steps for the regional renewable export arrangement.

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