معاون انرژی دولت آذربایجان، سال ۲۰۳۵ را به‌عنوان موعد اجرای برنامه‌ی گذار تعیین کرد

euronews (بزبان فارسی)

معاون انرژی دولت آذربایجان، سال ۲۰۳۵ را به‌عنوان موعد اجرای برنامه‌ی گذار تعیین کرد  افغان ایسایِف، معاون شرکت دولتی نفت و گاز آذربایجان (سوکار)، سال ۲۰۳۵ را نقطه‌عطفی در مسیر حرکت این شرکت به‌سوی کربن صفر اعلام کرد.  با همکاری   لب بیشتر : http://parsi.euronews.com/2025/08/28/azerbaijans-deputy-minister-of-energy-sets-2035-as-the-deadline-for-implementing-the-tran  مشترک شوید: یورونیوز به یازده زبان دیگر در دسترس شماست

Transcript

00:00At COP28, we announced our targets, including becoming net zero by 2050.

00:07And we have intermediate targets as well.

00:11So 2035 is a very important milestone for us.

00:24Hello and welcome back to Energy Frontiers.

00:28And in this episode, we explore the inner workings of Azerbaijan's state energy giant Sokar amidst shifting market dynamics.

00:36We'll hear from the company's vice president, Afghan Isayev, about the path from fossil fuels to a more diversified energy future.

00:44But first, here's a quick overview of how Sokar's story started.

00:48In 1992, Sokar was founded as Azerbaijan's national oil and gas company.

00:54Just two years later, and establishing a new pathway for foreign investment and energy diplomacy,

01:01Sokar signed a groundbreaking production sharing agreement, dubbed the Contract of the Century, with 11 international oil majors.

01:08By 2006, the Baku-Tablissi-Géhan pipeline was online, marking a new era of exports to the Mediterranean.

01:17And in the years that followed, Sokar expanded its presence further to countries like Romania and Switzerland,

01:24whilst deepening regional ties with the launch of the Star Refinery in Turkey by 2018.

01:29And in 2020, the Southern Gas Corridor began delivering Caspian gas to Europe.

01:37In recent times, Sokar has voiced its long-term commitment to energy security, diversification and innovation.

01:44But as the global energy landscape shifts, how is it redefining its role to lead on decarbonisation and sustainable growth?

01:52I'm delighted to say I'm joined now in studio by Afghan Isayev, the Vice President of Sokar.

02:00It's wonderful to see you. Thank you for being here today.

02:02It's a great pleasure to be here. Thank you for inviting me.

02:05Let me start by asking you about 2035.

02:08It's going to be a pivotal year for Sokar, because you have this marked as a transitional time

02:14to move from a hydrocarbon giant to a low-carbon energy player.

02:19Talk to me about some of the operational, technical, even financial challenges

02:23that stand in your way to reaching that milestone.

02:26By 2035, we will have become a national energy company.

02:30And as you rightfully mentioned, not hydrocarbon company, but with a balanced portfolio.

02:36One of the major challenges that we face when it comes to actually development of the renewable energy sources here

02:45in Azerbaijan, the projects is the limitations of the grid to intake the intermittent sources of energy.

02:52And that's why we need additional balancing power via the CCGTs, for example.

02:57We need battery energy storage solutions or combination of both.

03:02The second challenge that we face, of course, is the lack of access to open seas.

03:09Some of the infrastructure-related equipment, some of the equipment that we require for wind farms, for example,

03:17the blades can average in length 92-94 meters.

03:22And bringing them here is quite a challenge.

03:25Hopefully, of course, we will be able to localize certain production in the future.

03:29Some of the infrastructure and equipment that we have is dating back to Soviet time.

03:36That is why, as a challenge number three, is the decarbonization of the core activities themselves.

03:42We require massive investments in modernization of our operational processes.

03:47We require massive investments in digitalization.

03:51You've mentioned the major investments that you're making, not least in upstream,

03:54but also export infrastructure is another key area.

03:57If we see peak demand for oil and gas tail off earlier than expected,

04:02and OPEC don't foresee this happening any time before 2050, but should that happen,

04:07what is the risk, how great is the risk of stranded assets for SOCAR?

04:11And what are you doing to hedge against that possibility?

04:14That's a very good question.

04:15Well, firstly, I need to state that we do agree with OPEC.

04:20Now, we have infrastructure in place.

04:24So, as you know, pipelines, for example, we have a Southern Gas Corridor pipeline stretching from here till Italy.

04:31We have Baku-Tbilisi-J-Han pipeline from here to Mediterranean Sea.

04:36And we started to collaborate with very interesting partners, innovators.

04:42For example, we're looking at low-carbon fuels, biomethane generation, for example.

04:49Number two, we're looking at sustainable aviation fuels.

04:52Number three, we're looking at synthetic methane.

04:54In addition to that, let's look at our petrochemical production.

04:59Whatever you touch has a hydrocarbons in it.

05:02That is why we're more than confident that demand for petrochemicals will not subside.

05:07Long-term offtake agreements are pivotal, critical to SOCAR's revenue security.

05:13In light of current recent developments in the market, market volatility,

05:18and, of course, changing consumer behavior in Europe,

05:21are you therefore considering renegotiating any existing deals or restructuring new ones?

05:27It's a good question as well.

05:28Well, you're absolutely correct.

05:30Without long-term offtake agreements,

05:34projects with heavy infrastructure required financing,

05:40CAPEX, wouldn't be able to exist or be developed.

05:45We can mention Southern Gas Corridor.

05:47We have long-term contracts on gas contracts.

05:52And that was instrumental for us to be able to attract the financing.

05:57Yes, of course, in some times, based on the market dynamics,

06:02based on the type of the projects that you are in,

06:05you may be willing to sign the short-term or spot agreements.

06:10But at this stage, we're not in the process of renegotiating any contracts, offtake contracts.

06:15Can you give me any indication as to an IPO?

06:19Is it on the cards? Is it being discussed?

06:21Are we likely to have an announcement any time soon?

06:24Very interesting question.

06:25To the best of my knowledge, no.

06:28However, we do divest certain assets.

06:32Like, for example, last year, we sold 5% in Chardonis to MVM Energy Company,

06:39one of the global players in the energy market.

06:44As a second example, when it comes to divestment, we have an offshore-owned gas field,

06:49where Sokar and Total Energy were the shareholders.

06:54So, in 2023, Total and Sokar divested certain parts to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

07:02Divestments are one thing, but bolt-ons and acquisitions are another.

07:06You've been acquisitive in recent times.

07:07Is there anything else in the pipeline?

07:09Last year, we were able to acquire a certain portion of gas field in UAE.

07:16This year, we were able to complete the transaction and acquire the shares in Tamar gas field in East Mediterranean,

07:22which is also a very important strategy for our development abroad.

07:27And, of course, if the opportunities present themselves, if they are mutually beneficial,

07:33of course, we will consider the further acquisitions.

07:36Well, we very much hope that we'll be the first to know.

07:38Definitely. I would love to come back on the show.

07:40You're welcome anytime. Thank you so much for talking to me today.

07:43It was the greatest pleasure. Thank you very much for inviting me.

07:47Well, that wraps up this episode of Energy Frontiers,

07:50brought to you from our studio in Baku, Azerbaijan.

07:53Thanks for watching and I'll see you again next time.

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