Azerbaijan mulls comprehensive co-op with UAE in energy sector

Azerbaijan is in very intensive discussions about broader and comprehensive participation of the UAE in the country’s energy sector, Azerbaijani Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the World Utilities Congress in Abu Dhabi last week, Report informs referring to WAM.

“We have very ambitious plans to realize together with the UAE. Given the excellent relations between the leaderships of both countries, we want to cooperate even closer, and I am sure that we will have very comprehensive cooperation in the energy sector in the coming years,” he said.

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the UAE's development financing institution driving sustainable development at home and abroad, is a key finance partner for the construction project of a 230-megawatt Garadagh Solar photovoltaic power plant and is keen to support Azerbaijan further over its efforts to achieve renewable-energy goals.

“We are going to continue this successful cooperation with the UAE in the future,” Shahbazov said. “We are going to increase the share of renewables in energy mix up to 30 percent by 2030. However, this is also not the ultimate goal. I am sure that we will, in the coming years, review this target. Maybe we will enhance the target.”

Azerbaijan has an estimated solar energy potential of 23,040 megawatt (MW), according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).