Germany announces plan to boost Azeri gas imports to 2 bcm/year
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said after meeting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Berlin that Berlin aims to increase gas imports from Azerbaijan to 2 billion cubic meters per year. The move is intended to reduce Germany's dependence on Russian energy. Current supplies stand at about 1.5 bcm annually, less than 2% of Germany's total gas consumption.
The Announcement
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced plans to increase Azerbaijani gas imports to 2 billion cubic meters per year after meeting President Ilham Aliyev in Berlin, as reported by inbusiness.kz citing Euronews. Merz stated that Azerbaijan could become a source of additional gas volumes for Germany, helping the country reduce reliance on Russian energy. Current agreements provide for about 1.5 bcm annually, according to Die Zeit.
Azerbaijani Capacity
President Aliyev said Baku is ready to increase energy exports, including oil, but this will require new long-term contracts and infrastructure expansion. Azerbaijan currently exports about 12 bcm of gas to Europe annually, with main buyers including Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, and Hungary. Aliyev noted that supplies could come from domestic resources or through SOCAR's trading arm.
Broader Agreements
During Aliyev's visit, Germany and Azerbaijan signed several agreements in energy, transport, infrastructure, investment, science, and technology. Berlin views the Southern Gas Corridor as a key diversification route. The sides also discussed the Middle Corridor trade route linking China and Europe via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, as Germany seeks alternative logistics chains bypassing Russia.
What's Next
Germany and Azerbaijan are expected to negotiate new long-term contracts to realize the increased gas volumes. It remains unclear whether infrastructure upgrades and investment commitments will be finalized to meet the 2 bcm target.
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Germany announces plan to boost Azeri gas imports to 2 bcm/year
