Preparations are well underway for holding another prestigious event in our country which hosts lots of international events and handles the task adequately. So, last year, the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change saw Parties agree to Baku as host of COP29. Representatives of over 100 states and governments, as well as institutions specializing in environmental protection, ecology and green energy, are expected to participate in the event which based on several indicators enjoys high reputation across the world. Hosting of the event in our country is a prime example of Azerbaijan’s capability of being a reliable energy partner of the United Nations Organization, and of the contribution it makes to secure peace and stability in the region.
The «Contract of the Century» signed by national leader Heydar Aliyev in 1994 owing to his perseverance, as well as farsightedness, resulted in the recognition of our country as a reliable partner of the international community. Signing of the agreement played an important role in the recognition of our state as an international oil and gas country. The fairness of the geopolitical strategy of President Ilham Aliyev who took the helm of the republic and is continuing the course of the Great Leader, as well as his commitment to these promises day by day increase foreign countries’ confidence in the state of Azerbaijan and its leader. As a result, European countries’ interest in Azerbaijan’s oil and gas resources to meet their energy needs is gradually increasing every year.
Liberation of our lands from enemy occupation by the victorious Commander-in-Chief, establishment of peace in the South Caucasus region and mega projects implemented by Azerbaijan attract the attention of both European countries and the international community to our country. Despite Azerbaijan’s fame as an oil and gas country, it invests heavily in renewable and alternative energy sources. At the same time, Azerbaijan has managed to prove itself before the international community as a state fighting climate change at a global scale. Holding of the COP29 session in Azerbaijan will create conditions for its further recognition and strengthening of international stances in this direction. All this can be regarded as a logical continuation of the country’s transition strategy to a «green» economy. 2024 was declared the ‘Green World Solidarity Year’ in Azerbaijan in accordance with an order signed by the Azerbaijan Republic President Ilham Aliyev. Along with that, President of the Azerbaijan Republic declared the liberated lands a green energy zone and approved the Action Plan for 2022-2026.
At the COP29 meeting held on December 15 last year, President Ilham Aliyev said: “Azerbaijan will underscore its standing as an oil and gas country, emphasizing to the global community our commitment to green energy initiatives. The focal points of our current energy policy revolve around the development of green energy and the facilitation of its transport to global markets. This commitment reflects a tangible reality, and the international community will once again see it”.
Implementing large projects on «green» energy and environmental protection, our state, in general, is expanding cooperation with partner countries to increase capabilities of transition to alternative energy. Thus, in recent years, Azerbaijan has done great work to develop renewable energy sources, including construction of wind and solar power plants. The year 2023 also saw the commissioning of the region’s largest renewable energy station in Azerbaijan and laying of the ground for erection of several wind and solar power plants. Another objective of Azerbaijan’s economic policy is to lower dependence on the oil sector by increasing the role of renewables.
Therefore, based on the agreement on launch of pilot projects in renewable energy sector signed on January 9, 2020 between Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan, the Saudi Arabian company ACWA Power and the UAE’s company Masdar, a ground breaking ceremony of the Khizi-Absheron wind power plant was held jointly with ACWA Power at the Gulustan palace on January 13, 2022. On March 15, 2022, 4 MoUs were signed in Baku with Masdar within the groundbreaking ceremony of the Garadagh solar power plant. Too, on December 15th, 2022, Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan and the Australian company Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) signed a framework agreement to jointly study and develop potential green hydrogen and renewable energy projects in Azerbaijan.
All this shows that our country has strong interest in increasing the share of energy generated out of renewable sources. The shift to green energy implies replacement of conventional energy resources with renewables, using modern technologies. Rapid development of technologies and objectives pursued by countries in this direction speeds up transition to green energy. Our country also has long-range goals regarding energy security, especially transition to green energy policy. The favorable geographic location enables Azerbaijan to utilize the potential of renewable energy sources.
For the upcoming COP29 to be held on best level, SOCAR Azerigaz PU keeps country’s gas distribution network in good repair and proper working order, and performs operations on gas pipelines which do not fit to the esthetic appearance of the city. Thus, 2,428meters of underground and 28,621meters of aboveground gas pipelines have been thoroughly repaired since February of this year. 12,518 meters of gas pipelines have been raised upon supports. Besides, anti-erosion work was carried out on 147,086 meters of gas pipelines and 5,228 gas meters were replaced.
In the first quarter of this year, gas supply was provided under the investment program to 30 dwelling settlements and 22 new residential areas in Baku and the regions. 137,000 meters of main and intra-block gas pipelines made of polyethylene and metal pipes of various diameters have been laid to provide gas supply. Operations on installation of gas supply infrastructure are underway in 16 villages freed from occupation. In general, 2,507 points have been provided with gas supply across the country and the rate of gas supply provision makes 96.5%.
Based on the applications of physical and legal entities, 836 technical specifications for providing gas supply to non-residential areas (facilities) and 30 technical specifications for providing gas supply to apartment buildings have been issued. Meanwhile, 9,279 design and estimate documents of individual residential houses were agreed upon requests of construction companies.
Within the framework of action programs prepared by SOCAR Azerigaz Production Union, 34 gas regulators were installed or replaced over the past period of this year in order to ensure stable, uninterrupted supply of natural gas to consumers. Of them, 25 units are cabinet-type gas control points (GCP) equipped with capacities for condensate collection. In January-March of this year, 3,332 individual regulators were installed and put into operation in accordance with the schedule drawn up to ensure stable and safe operation of the gas system and prevent gas losses.
In just 3 months of this year, Azerigaz Production Union replaced 46,874 life-expired and inoperable gas meters with new devices. Of them, 41, 634 mechanical and 5, 240 smart meters. 21,292 gas meters were installed in private houses newly provided with gas supply.
According to 7,767 acts drawn up in January-March with the aim to prevent illegal use of gas by the population and industrial sector, calculate and compensate for damage caused by gas losses due to illegal connection to the gas distribution network and gas meters tampering, the volume of damage totaled 49,900,385 cubic meters (1,824,546 cubic meters fell to the share of 140 industrial consumers and 48,075,839 cubic meters accounted for physical entities). Of course, the work does end there and the scope of operations is planned to be increased as the weather gets warmer.
Beyond the performed operations, there are also activities underway to apply advanced technologies in the gas industry. Since last year, SOCAR Azerigaz Production Union, together with various international companies, has been implementing pilot projects in various regions to introduce an intelligent gas network and infrastructure, as well as smart transmission facilities.
As part of the pilot project, gas meters of consumers are replaced with new devices which have «smart» transmitters installed on them. Implementation of the project targets straight at ensuring customer satisfaction. One of the advantages of this project is the further automatic updating of the limit on pay (mechanical type) gas meters. In addition, contact between subscribers and employees of the Union will be minimized, and the cost of consumed natural gas will be calculated remotely.
I would also like to note that great responsibility during this prestigious event falls not only on state institutions, but also on media and mostly on newspapers and magazines. It is a good thing that Caspian Energy’s anniversary has coincided with COP29 in our country. I am confident that the journal you are heading will not lag behind other traditional media and will inform a wide audience about the conference to be held in our country. Taking the opportunity, I am wishing your personnel a happy anniversary and further success.
