Skopje, 12 March 2025 (MIA) - Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Bozhnovska met Wednesday with her Azerbaijani counterpart, Minister Parviz Shahbazov, as part of an official visit to Azerbaijan aimed at promoting energy cooperation between the two countries.

In a press release the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources noted that the meeting highlighted the joint commitment to strengthen the partnership between the two countries in the field of gas supply, with a focus on opportunities for long-term gas supply agreements, as well as potential investments in the country’s gas infrastructure.

Shahbazov said the country could become a regional gas transit hub, stressing that Azerbaijan is ready to immediately begin cooperation on specific projects.

“Macedonia can become a regional gas transit hub, we are ready to immediately enter cooperation on specific projects and offer expertise, as well as serious opportunities for joint projects if interest exists,” Shahbazov said, according to the Ministry.

A special emphasis at the meeting was placed on potential cooperation between state-owned company Power Plants of North Macedonia (ESM) and the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR).

The Ministry said the partnership between ESM and SOCAR is key for the country’s energy transformation, and a meeting was agreed to intensify activities within the memorandum of cooperation signed during the COP29 in Baku.

Minister Bozhinovska stressed the country’s readiness to actively cooperate on several projects “that will ensure certainty, sustainability and the country’s energy independence”, noting that the meeting represents a significant step towards the realization of these goals.

“Azerbaijan is offering us concrete cooperation that will help map us as a serious regional gas transit hub. This is something that would be of strategic importance for our country’s energy future and bring advantages for our economy, as well as the citizens,” Bozhinovska said.

As part of an official visit to Azerbaijan, a Macedonian delegation headed by President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova met Tuesday with the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Ali Asadov, and the Speaker of Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova.

Photo: Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources