BAKU - Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, said his country and the UAE share deep-rooted relations, most notably in the energy sector.

The UAE has also contributed to green energy projects in Azerbaijan, he added.

In an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Shahbazov noted that the Janub Thermal Power Plant, which was co-financed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, is one of his country’s key infrastructure projects in the energy sector, noting that its production capacity is 780 megawatts (MW).

Azerbaijan has signed several agreements on electricity investment, purchase and transfer with Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, for the Garadagh Solar Power Plant, which is located 60 to 70 kilometres from the capital, Baku, he further added.

Shahbazov then highlighted his country’s keenness to enhance its cooperation with the UAE through Masdar, pointing out that the two sides have signed an agreement to launch a major project to generate 4,000 MW of electricity, whose first phase will include an onshore solar power plant and a wind power plant with a 1 gigawatt (GW) production capacity, in addition to an offshore winder power plant whose capacity is 2,000 MW.

The project is being implemented as part of his country’s plan to add 6 GW to its current capacity, he added, noting that Azerbaijan aims to export green energy to neighbouring countries, and will cooperate with Masdar to produce additional quantities of energy, including green hydrogen.

Speaking about the importance of COP28 and its role in promoting energy transition, he said that the event will help drive international efforts to achieve energy transition around the world, and the cooperation between the UAE and Azerbaijan is significantly contributing to this process.

On Azerbaijan’s plans to develop its renewable energy sector, Shahbazov affirmed that his country has over 200 years of experience in oil extraction, has started producing and exporting natural gas, and plans to engage in green energy projects.

Azerbaijan is committed to reducing its carbon emissions to 40 percent by 2044, and is establishing a specialist zone to produce green energy and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, supported by its related cooperation with the UAE, he explained.

It also aims to double its natural gas exports in the coming years, as well as enhance its international stature among green energy providers, he added.

On future collaborations with the UAE in sustainable development, Shahbazov said that Masdar is a key partner of Azerbaijan in the energy sector, especially in renewable energy.