"Azerbaijan's role in Europe's energy security is growing and appreciating over time."

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship Tahir Mirkishili told APA.

Mirkishili said that even before the crisis in Ukraine, at the VIII Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor in Baku on February 4 this year, EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Oliver Varhely called Azerbaijan not only an important reliable partner, but also an active role in energy security. "The VIII Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor was held at a time when the price of natural gas in the world is rapidly rising, and gas reserves in Europe are declining," he said.

At a time when the energy crisis was raging, the Southern Gas Corridor reaffirmed its role in energy security for European consumers.

It was announced at the meeting that more than 18.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas were exported to Georgia, Turkey and European consumers through the Southern Gas Corridor in 2021 and in January this year.

During this period, only European countries were supplied with about 8.9 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani natural gas under long-term contracts, as well as short-term spot operations.

Against this background, it was no secret that the European Union, unequivocally recognizing that Azerbaijan's role in Europe's energy security will be more important and strategic in the future, has mobilized its efforts to increase gas supplies from Azerbaijan in the near future.

For example, the European Commissioner for Energy, who addressed the VIII Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Consultative Council in Baku,

Kadri Simson, Co-Chair of the Consultative Council, also said that many ministers and representatives from the Western Balkans were present at the Consultative Council, which was sufficient evidence of the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor for the European Union and the region.

The Commissioner thanked the President of Azerbaijan for Azerbaijan's efforts to increase gas supplies to the European Union via the Southern Gas Corridor.

He noted that this is a very important point in terms of security of European gas supply, and Azerbaijan is a reliable partner for the European Union, the role of the corridor with rising energy prices and hard gas supply is of unprecedented strategic importance for the European Union.

To increase the throughput of the frame Simson corridor,

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship recalled that President Ilham Aliyev has always established himself as a reliable supplier of energy resources to international markets, emphasizing the need for Azerbaijani gas in new markets and our country is ready for it. Azerbaijan plans to increase gas production.

Azerbaijan's proven gas reserves are 2.6 trillion cubic meters.

However, if we look at our experience in the development of oil and gas fields, thanks to the discovery of new fields and new technologies, more reserves have been discovered than expected.

Therefore, the head of state expressed confidence that Azerbaijan's proven gas reserves will be even greater.

In addition, one of the largest gas condensate fields, Absheron, will soon begin production.

Another big field that we hope will give good results is Babek.

Its estimated gas reserves are 400 billion cubic meters.

The gas reserves of the Umid field are at least 200 billion cubic meters.

We have high expectations from one of our long-operating oil and gas fields - Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli.

The deep gas section, which we hope will be commissioned soon, will contain hundreds of billions of cubic meters of gas and can be produced in a short time.

Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov noted that the corridor could expand its strategic importance in ensuring energy security through interconnectors between European countries to the Western Balkans and other parts of the continent.

To this end, it is urgent to launch a new phase of activities, including the signing of contracts with consumers, investment and increasing gas production, as well as the installation of interconnectors.

The Minister noted that Azerbaijan is ready to cooperate with the European Commission and countries wishing to purchase additional volumes of gas or to import and export gas, and to contribute to the development of the Southern Gas Corridor.

Mirkishili noted that other European countries, including Spain, are already showing interest in taking steps to expand the Southern Gas Corridor to achieve the supply of Azerbaijani gas.

According to him, EU Reporter and other European publications are already publishing articles on this issue: "Against the background of the crisis in Ukraine, it is unequivocally recognized that the Southern Gas Corridor and Azerbaijani gas are of strategic importance for Europe, which is trying to reduce its dependence on Russian gas."

Today, European countries, especially in the Priney and the Balkans, are trying to create the appropriate infrastructure.

For example, an article in the EU Reporter states that

Spain is promoting the construction of a new offshore gas pipeline to the Southern Gas Corridor, which will expand the supply route to the Iberian Peninsula with an Italian energy infrastructure firm.

Taking into account the possibility of doubling gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Europe via the Southern Transport Corridor in the near future, ie from 10 billion cubic meters to 20 billion cubic meters, European countries have intensified their efforts to create appropriate infrastructure.

In other words, increasing gas supplies from Azerbaijan has become one of the strategic goals for the European Union.

European countries have intensified their efforts to create the appropriate infrastructure.

In other words, increasing gas supplies from Azerbaijan has become one of the strategic goals for the European Union.

European countries have intensified their efforts to create the appropriate infrastructure.

In other words, increasing gas supplies from Azerbaijan has become one of the strategic goals for the European Union.