Azerbaijan enjoys robust cooperative relations with Central
Asian countries, underpinned by shared values including historical,
cultural, and root connections. Enhancing and broadening these
partnerships is a central focus of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. The
nation sustains significant engagements with Central Asian states
across both conventional and alternative energy sectors.
These collaborative efforts were a key topic at the recent meeting
of the energy ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS),
held on September 16 in Bishkek. During this meeting, the ministers
addressed the advancement of energy cooperation and the joint
execution of regional projects.

Parviz Shahbazov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, who spoke at
the meeting, noted that energy cooperation with the Turkic states
is not only growing but also stimulating new projects and regional
initiatives. In this context, the “green energy” corridor
projects—namely, “Caspian-Black Sea-Europe,”
“Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan,” and
“Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Europe”—will position the Turkic states as key
players in supplying clean energy and advancing energy transition
in Eurasia. These corridors aim to connect the rich energy
resources and electricity systems of our countries and to create a
unified “green energy platform” that facilitates exports to Europe
via Azerbaijan and Turkiye,” said the Minister of Energy.

The “Caspian-Black Sea-Europe,”
“Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan,” and “Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Europe”
green energy corridor projects are ambitious initiatives designed
to enhance energy connectivity, promote sustainable energy sources,
and strengthen regional cooperation. Here’s a detailed overview of
each project, particularly focusing on their implications for
Nakhchivan, an autonomous republic of Azerbaijan:

Caspian-Black Sea-Europe Green Energy Corridor

The “Caspian-Black Sea-Europe” corridor is envisioned as a major
green energy route connecting the Caspian Basin with Europe via the
Black Sea. The corridor aims to facilitate the transfer of
renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, and hydropower,
from the Caspian region to European markets.

– Renewable Energy Focus: This corridor focuses on integrating
renewable energy sources from countries bordering the Caspian Sea
and transporting them to European countries.
– Infrastructure: The project involves developing pipelines, power
lines, and other infrastructure necessary for the transmission of
green energy.
– Strategic Importance: Nakhchivan, located near the Caspian Basin
and the Black Sea, could play a significant role in this corridor
as a transit hub or energy source.

Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Green Energy
Corridor

The “Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan” corridor is designed to
create a regional green energy network linking Azerbaijan with
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This corridor aims to boost energy trade
and cooperation among these Central Asian countries by leveraging
their renewable energy resources.

– Energy Trade: This corridor facilitates the exchange of renewable
energy, such as solar and wind power, among Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,
and Uzbekistan.
– Infrastructure Development: It includes the construction of
transmission lines and other infrastructure to support the
efficient flow of energy.
– Role of Nakhchivan: Nakhchivan, strategically situated in the
South Caucasus, could serve as a transit point or even a renewable
energy producer contributing to this corridor.

Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Europe Green Energy
Corridor

The “Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Europe” corridor is a major green energy
route connecting Azerbaijan with Europe through Turkiye. This
corridor aims to transport renewable energy from Azerbaijan and
potentially other Central Asian countries to European markets.

– Energy Export: Azerbaijan’s role as a major energy producer is
crucial, and this corridor will help export its renewable energy
resources to Europe.
– Infrastructure: Key infrastructure includes pipelines, electrical
grids, and storage facilities necessary for energy transmission and
storage.
– Significance of Nakhchivan: Given its geographic location,
Nakhchivan might be involved in facilitating energy flow between
Azerbaijan and Turkiye or serve as a link in the broader European
energy market.

Nakhchivan’s Role in Green Energy Corridors

Nakhchivan, an autonomous republic of Azerbaijan located at the
crossroads of several key regions, stands to gain significantly
from these green energy corridors. Its strategic location can
potentially make it a central hub in energy transit and
distribution. Additionally, the development of green energy
infrastructure in Nakhchivan could spur local economic growth,
create jobs, and enhance energy security for the region.

Overall, these projects are part of a broader effort to enhance
energy connectivity, support sustainable energy development, and
foster regional cooperation in the context of global energy
transitions.

At the same time, the minister spoke about the green energy
projects planned for joint implementation with the Turkic states.
Parviz Shahbazov noted that the “Intergovernmental Agreement on
Strategic Partnership in the Field of Green Energy Development and
Transmission between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan” is
expected to be signed soon. It is important to highlight that this
agreement will focus solely on trilateral cooperation and will not
impact existing bilateral agreements and activities between the
parties. The document will address topics such as renewable energy
sources, energy efficiency, hydrogen, energy infrastructure, and
the establishment of a steering committee and working group.

Additionally, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy mentioned that
cooperation with Kyrgyzstan in the field of renewable energy is
also on the agenda. He added that hosting the Energy Transition
Investment Forum for Central Asian countries during COP29 will
present another opportunity for advancing green energy goals.

The minister emphasized that the clear strategic vision and
decisive policies of the heads of state, aimed at achieving success
by protecting the rich natural resources, energy, and transport
corridors across a vast geographical space from Central Asia to
Europe, have strengthened the status of the Organization of Turkic
States (OTS). He highlighted the significance of the Garabagh
Declaration, adopted at the informal summit of the OTS in
Shusha.

On July 6, the Garabagh Declaration was signed at the informal
summit meeting of the Organization of Turkic States in Shusha. The
declaration, which focuses on developing stable and multifaceted
relations between the Turkic states, leverages their full potential
in political, economic, transport, defense, humanitarian,
educational, and cultural fields.

Minister Parviz Shahbazov recalled President Ilham Aliyev’s call
for the 21st century to be the “century of the Turkic world” and
noted that efforts to integrate Central Asia, the South Caucasus,
and the Caspian regions into a cohesive geopolitical entity reflect
the evolving nature of Azerbaijan’s relations with the Turkic
states.

He reported that Azerbaijan’s trade turnover with member and
observer countries of the organization exceeded $9 billion last
year, with these countries investing $18.2 billion in Azerbaijan’s
economy, while Azerbaijan invested $20.3 billion in them.
Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are
members of the OTS, while Hungary, Turkmenistan, and Northern
Cyprus hold observer status.

Valuing energy cooperation as a strategic pillar of relations among
the Turkic states, the Minister highlighted that, in addition to
the BTC pipeline, significant contributions from the
Azerbaijan-Turkiye energy partnership include Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum,
TANAP, and the Southern Gas Corridor. These projects ensure energy
security for many countries, including Turkiye. Last year and
during the first eight months of this year, 41 million tons of oil
and 37 billion cubic meters of gas were supplied to Turkiye and
global markets through these pipelines.

This year, Turkiye is expected to receive 9.8 billion cubic
meters of gas out of Azerbaijan’s 25 billion cubic meters in total
exports, with an additional 12.5 billion cubic meters going to
Europe. The agreement for transporting 2 million tons of Kazakh oil
via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and the gradual increase in
these volumes underscore Azerbaijan’s role in connecting Central
Asia, Turkiye, and Europe.

Following the discussions, a Joint Communiqué was signed, outlining
the results of the meeting. The communiqué supported the
establishment of the OTS’s Energy Coordinating Committee, the
Regional Center for Technology and Green Initiatives, and green
energy corridors. It also reflected the Turkic states’ readiness to
actively participate in COP29’s Energy Day, scheduled to be held in
Baku on November 15.

In conclusion, the recent meeting of the energy ministers of the
Organization of Turkic States (OTS) highlighted the growing
collaboration between Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries in the
realm of green energy. Key projects, including the “Caspian-Black
Sea-Europe,” “Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan,” and
“Azerbaijan-Turkiye -Europe” green energy corridors, are set to
enhance energy connectivity and promote sustainable practices
across Eurasia. Nakhchivan’s strategic location positions it as a
crucial player in these initiatives, potentially boosting its role
in energy transit and local economic growth. Furthermore, the
anticipated Intergovernmental Agreement among Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, along with ongoing efforts to
strengthen ties with Kyrgyzstan, reflects a robust commitment to
advancing green energy goals. The recent Garabagh Declaration and
the establishment of new energy platforms underscore the OTS’s
unified vision for a sustainable energy future, with forthcoming
initiatives like the COP29 Energy Day in Baku further reinforcing
the region’s dedication to clean energy.

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