Azerbaijani projects have changed the energy map of the Caucasus and the Caspian region

By Vestnik Kavkaza

An expert of the Energy Ministry of Azerbaijan, Otel Huseynov, says that Azerbaijan is one of the oldest oil and gas producing countries, with considerable energy resources. Azerbaijan, thanks to its long history of oil production, received such names as: the Birthplace of Oil, the Land of Fires. “After the restoration of independence, in the following 24 years, Azerbaijan, mostly due to the rational use of resources, has become a country with a diverse  economy. The projects implemented since the mid-90s on the initiative of our country  have significantly changed the energy map of the Caucasus and the Caspian region, and they are changing the energy map of Europe,” Huseynov thinks.

This happened after the signing of the 'Contract of the Century' between 13 companies from 8 countries on September 20, 1994. In 1997, the northern export pipeline Baku-Novorossiysk was brought into operation, and then in 2009 there was a contract signed between the Azerbaijan Republic and Gazprom, followed by another one signed in 1999, Baku-Supsa, then Baku-Tbili-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbili-Erzurum.

Huseynov thinks that another equally important task, urgently requiring implementation in the 21st century, is the use of high technology in order to reduce energy consumption: “Like all countries, Azerbaijan faces economic problems of a different nature. Saving the planet's ecological balance, rational use of supplies, protection of water, air and land pollution are global problems. There is no doubt that the solution to these problems is one of the strategic goals and for Azerbaijan a solution to these problems requires a long-term program of planned activities of major public investment.” 

According to the expert, the economic development of Azerbaijan has helped to transform solutions to environmental problems, and environmental protection is one of the priorities of state policy: “Over the past 10 years Azerbaijan has carried out large-scale government programs aimed at improving the environmental situation, as well as large projects that require billions of dollars of investment. Activities on this scale are being carried out in Azerbaijan for the first time over the past few decades, and are already beginning to bear fruit.”

The policy of Azerbaijan in the energy sector is designed for long-term thrift of energy. “For the government, at the same time the challenges of transformation of resources for long-term prosperity of society and the current demand for energy to balance tomorrow are important. Our common goal is to create the conditions for human well-being, and enabling the use of resources for future generations.” Otel Huseynov stated.