Energy Minister attended the presentation of the gasification project of the Albanian city of Korca

Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov participated in the public presentation of the Nur project – the gasification of the Albanian city of Korca. Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, MPs of Albania Belinda Balluku, Executive Director of "SOCAR Balkan" Murad Heydarov also attended the event.

Prime Minister Edi Rama said: “The support of the president of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev in the implementation of this initiative is unparalleled. The President is the greatest friend of Albania and the Albanian people. This project is being implemented at a very important and strategic moment for Albania. Albania is currently on the verge of becoming the country that produces the highest volume of energy in the region. Successful implementation of a strategic project is possible only with international cooperation. We expect this project, which is an indicator of our friendship with Azerbaijan, to be implemented by the end of 2026 and to provide gas to the population of Korca.”

In his remarks, Minister Parviz Shahbazov described this project as a manifestation of the strategic vision and decisions of the heads of state of both countries, contributing to the development of friendly partnership relations, as well as a major outcome of high-level Azerbaijani-Albanian relations and energy partnership. Describing President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev's support in the development of bilateral relations in all areas, the Minister noted the energy sphere as a strategic direction of this cooperation. It was noted that Azerbaijan and Albania, as members of the Southern Gas Corridor, successfully cooperate in strengthening European energy security and diversifying energy supplies, during which 45.5 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani natural gas were delivered to European markets through the territory of Albania. It was noted that as the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev emphasized, the geography of our gas supply in Europe will expand. Our activities related to the creation of the gas distribution infrastructure of European countries play a special role in this process, and in this context Albania is a country that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to.

Minister Parviz Shahbazov said: "The gasification project in Korca is to be implemented with Azerbaijani investments by SOCAR. As the first step in developing Albania’s gas infrastructure, this project carries strategic significance and symbolic value for the country. The project will diversify the Albania’s energy supply, support its climate agenda, and help in achieving decarbonization targets. This initiative also means increased energy access and decreased reliance on traditional fuels like coal and firewood. Albania, while maintaining its strategic transit role, will also become a gas-importing and consuming country from this pipeline."

Stressing that our energy partnership has great potential for expansion in the field of green energy, the Minister said that joint efforts within the Intergovernmental Commission are aimed at realizing these opportunities, implementing infrastructure projects and promoting mutual investments.

The participants positively assessed the inauguration of the SOCAR Gas Albania office following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between SOCAR, Albania’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy and the Albgaz company as part of the COP29 in Baku in November last year, stressing the importance of accelerating the processes at the next phase.