BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 2. Growing demand,
well-developed infrastructure, and strong partnerships form the
foundation of a long-term strategy in the gas industry, bp’s Vice
President for Business Development in the Caspian Region, Chingiz
Hajiyev, said during a panel discussion held as part of Baku Energy
Week, Trend
reports.
According to him, the first key factor is demand, which
continues to grow amid industrialization, electrification, and
population growth.
“Gas is not being displaced by other energy sources at present;
on the contrary, it remains a resource in high demand,” he
noted.
The second important element is infrastructure, noted C.
Hajiyev.
In his words, amid growing risks of supply disruptions, the
importance of energy infrastructure is constantly increasing.
Hajiyev emphasized that gas is not only a fuel but also a
strategic link between economies, industries, and states, and it is
the presence of the appropriate infrastructure that enables this
function.
According to him, the Southern Gas Corridor serves as an
example.
He recalled that nearly three decades ago, SOCAR, the
Azerbaijani government, bp, and their partners made the decision to
create a 3,500-kilometer pipeline corridor stretching from the
Caspian Sea to Southern Europe.
Despite the scepticism surrounding the project at the time, he
noted, the infrastructure created today helps ensure energy
stability amid geopolitical uncertainty.
The third pillar of the long-term strategy is partnership.
“Projects based on partnership succeed when each party has a stake
in the overall outcome,” Hajiyev added.
He noted that steady demand, the existing and expanding
infrastructure of the Southern Gas Corridor, as well as the
long-standing cooperation between SOCAR, the Government of
Azerbaijan, bp, and other project participants, form the foundation
of a long-term and sustainable development strategy for the gas
industry.
