Azerbaijan Starts Natural Gas Exports to Croatia
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has commenced supplying natural gas to Croatia as of September 1, 2024. This development results from successful cooperation between the governments of Azerbaijan and Croatia and marks a significant step in expanding energy cooperation and enhancing Europe’s energy security by diversifying its energy sources. With this move, Croatia becomes the tenth European country to receive Azerbaijani gas, joining the ranks of Türkiye, Georgia, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovenia.
This initiative further solidifies Azerbaijan's position as a reliable energy partner and underscores SOCAR's commitment to diversifying energy sources for Europe’s domestic markets. Last year, Azerbaijan exported 23.8 billion cubic meters of gas, a 5.3% increase from the previous year, with expectations of reaching 25 billion cubic meters in exports this year, of which 13 billion cubic meters are projected to go to Europe. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), currently operating at a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters per year, has the potential for expansion to 20 billion cubic meters, which could support increased supply to European markets.
In related developments, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov announced plans to increase natural gas deliveries to Serbia from 400 million cubic meters to one billion cubic meters annually. This increase would cover about one-third of Serbia’s gas needs. Additionally, up to 160,000 tons of Azerbaijani oil have been delivered to the Serbian market this year, further demonstrating the strengthening energy ties between Azerbaijan and Europe.
