The Minister of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources, Sanja Bozhinovska, held a working meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to North Macedonia, H.E. Mr. Kamil Kasiev. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation between the two countries, with an emphasis on energy as a key area of mutual interest.
They discussed current activities in North Macedonia to increase energy independence. Minister Bozhinovska emphasized the country's active work on creating new conditions for the supply of natural gas at competitive prices and its readiness to explore opportunities to deepen energy cooperation with Azerbaijan, considered a significant regional partner.
The Azerbaijani Ambassador highlighted his country's willingness to deepen cooperation with North Macedonia, emphasizing that the leadership, including the Minister of Energy and the President of Azerbaijan, actively supports initiatives in the energy sector.
During the talks, there was an expressed willingness to facilitate direct contacts and meetings at the highest level to implement mutually beneficial projects. Furthermore, it was noted that several important energy-related meetings and forums would be held in Azerbaijan this year, providing an opportunity to strengthen cooperation.
This meeting builds on recent activities aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation. In November last year, at the COP29 Climate Summit in Baku, Minister Bozhinovska and President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova met with President Ilham Aliyev, who expressed his country's readiness to collaborate on infrastructure projects, particularly in gasification in North Macedonia.
Additionally, during the same period, ESM and SOCAR, a state-owned company from Azerbaijan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, opening opportunities for improving the availability of natural gas and ensuring a stable supply at competitive prices.
Azerbaijan plays a significant role in the regional energy sector, supplying natural gas through various interconnectors. Bulgaria receives gas from Azerbaijan via the interconnector with Greece, significantly altering the energy map of Europe. Serbia has also signed agreements for the supply of Azerbaijani gas, with plans to deliver 400 million cubic meters annually by 2026.
The Ministry of Energy remains committed to building partnerships to ensure stability and sustainability in the energy sector, both domestically and in the region.