Kiril Temelkov in Baku: The Green Energy Corridor is the Next Step in Our Sustainable Partnership with Azerbaijan
“Under the long-term contract between the two state-owned companies, Bulgaria provides a substantial part of the supply of natural gas for domestic consumption in our country. The total amount of natural gas supplied to our country from Azerbaijan is over 60% of our annual consumption. At the same time, part of this quantity is distributed to the markets in the neighbouring countries, so Azerbaijan is a reliable and essential partner both for Bulgaria and for our neighbouring countries.
This is the reason why we are actively negotiating with the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan to expand the scale of this cooperation. The Green Energy Corridor (AGTB) is a logical step in this direction, because connectivity and diversification are the two key factors in ensuring energy security in the region.”
This was stated by Deputy Minister of Energy Kiril Temelkov during the traditional Energy Forum in Baku. The event takes place within the framework of the 31st edition of Energy Week in the Azerbaijani capital – one of the largest and most prestigious platforms for global energy dialogue. The ministerial plenary discussion was entitled International Cooperation for a Sustainable and Diversified Energy Future and was also attended by Cristina Borrero, Director for Energy Security at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy.
“Bulgaria plays a strategic role in strengthening regional energy connectivity,” Mr. Temelkov firmly stated.
Minister Temelkov highlighted the key importance of the Green Energy Corridor: “The project, initiated as early as 2024 by Presidents Radev and Aliyev, will expand the opportunities for renewable electricity transmission and trade between the two regions. We are working intensively on its implementation and plan to start a preliminary feasibility study this year together with our partners from Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Georgia.”
The Deputy Minister highlighted the importance and active role of Bulgaria's East-West electricity corridor: “This is a large-scale regional connectivity project covering the countries of the Balkan and Apennine Peninsulas. It will also create even better prospects for the future implementation of the Green Gas Corridor (AGTB), connecting the Caspian region with electricity grids in Southeast Europe. Projects such as these are crucial in the context of better use of the potential for renewable electricity generation in individual countries, including the significant potential of the Caspian region.”
According to Mr. Temelkov, sustainable energy transition requires parallel development of infrastructure, energy storage facilities and low-carbon technologies: “Bulgaria will continue to build on and support investments in this aspect, because it is the diversification of energy production and distribution that creates prerequisites for a high level of energy independence, security in the region, reliability and affordability of energy for society.”
In Baku, Kiril Temelkov also spoke with the Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Orkhan Zeynalov. Both sides reaffirmed their commitments to the next steps in the implementation of the Green Energy Corridor (AGTB): initiating an intergovernmental agreement between the four countries along the project route and preparing a detailed roadmap for its preparation and implementation.
The Deputy Minister also held a meeting with the Azerbaijani state-owned company SOCAR. The talks focused on the deepening of regional cooperation and the opportunities for implementation of joint projects of mutual interest.
