Azerbaijani gas can be supplied to Ukraine through Turkiye via the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline, which is currently inoperative, energy expert Ilham Shaban told Report.
“At the same time, it will pass through Bulgaria and Romania. In general, Ukraine’s desire to buy gas from Azerbaijan is not a new idea, it was born back in the 1990s,” the expert said.
Shaban reminded that in the mid-2000s, Ukrainians offered to supply gas from Azerbaijan and other Caspian countries to the border with Georgia, and from there along the bottom of the Black Sea to Ukraine, and then in transit to Europe: “Unfortunately, the commercial side of the issue did not suit European companies, on the other hand, the gas pipeline was supposed to intersect with the Blue Stream gas pipeline, which Russia built in 2000 for supplies to Turkiye.”
Shaban noted that the import of Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine is currently impossible, but theoretically possible in the future: “Azerbaijan is implementing oil and gas projects for commercial, not political purposes. Our main desire is to turn our natural resources into capital on the world market. As for oil and oil products, after gaining independence, we constantly cooperated with Ukraine in this area. We even gave them products on a barter basis and on credit. We have always provided our support to friendly and politically supporting us Ukraine.”