Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan seeks to supply Europe with electricity via Georgia and Turkey; we must expand these routes

“We already have a ready project that envisages laying power transmission lines from Azerbaijan through Armenia to Nakhchivan,” stated President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in an interview given to local media in Nakhchivan.

According to President Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s power grid is currently interconnected with Russia, Iran, and Georgia, as well as with Turkey via Georgia.

“Thus, an energy corridor running through Armenia to Nakhchivan, and onward to Turkey and Europe, will also help ensure the stability of Armenia’s power system in times of crisis. Therefore, the sooner we implement this, the better,” Ilham Aliyev stated.

He noted that Azerbaijan is the only country in the region possessing vast resources across oil, gas, and electricity.

“If today there are only a few countries in our region that face no issues with electricity supply, Azerbaijan holds first place among them. The region is experiencing an energy crisis that could worsen due to ongoing local conflicts, heightened risks, and supply chain disruptions affecting fuel transport. Furthermore, the possibility of unforeseen future events cannot be ruled out. Therefore, Azerbaijan’s special role in this regard is indisputable. We must ensure that Nakhchivan’s continuous and sustainable energy supply is never compromised,” Ilham Aliyev remarked.

The Azerbaijani President also stated that the country aims to supply the European market with electricity alongside oil and gas, utilising the only current route through Georgia and Turkey.

“There is no other country in our region so comprehensively supplied with energy as Azerbaijan, whether in terms of oil, gas, or electricity. By expanding our export capacities to neighbouring countries, we simultaneously gain access to the European market. We have already reached Europe with our oil and gas, but we also want to reach the European market with electricity. Presently, the only existing route passes through Georgia and Turkey, heading onward to Europe. We must expand these capacities. Specifically, the feasibility study for the Black Sea Energy Cable project is complete. However, a second transmission line would only serve to reinforce our capabilities. Furthermore, as you may recall, in November 2024, together with the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, we agreed on laying a subsea power cable across the Caspian Sea and signed an agreement to that effect,” Aliyev stated during the interview.

In the interview, Ilham Aliyev also addressed the Zangezur Corridor, noting that transporting 15 million tonnes of cargo through it would generate additional employment in the country.

“Transporting 15 million tonnes, or potentially even more, of cargo via the Zangezur Corridor will stimulate significantly greater activity. More jobs will be created, economic activity will increase, and Nakhchivan will become, I can safely say, an indispensable transport hub,” Ilham Aliyev stated.

The President of Azerbaijan added that when he initially proposed the concept of the Zangezur Corridor, the focus was primarily on the transport segment; today, however, he views it within a much broader strategic context.