Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka ?edovi? Handanovi?, announced that the country will have secure access to about one million cubic metres of gas from Azerbaijan this winter, enhancing Serbia’s energy security.

After a bilateral meeting with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, Ms ?edovi? Handanovi? signed a Memorandum of Understanding on green energy cooperation between the two ministries. Additionally, two gas supply agreements were signed between Srbijagas and Azerbaijan’s SOCAR.

“Serbia and Azerbaijan share a strategic partnership, underpinned by the strong and respectful relationship between Presidents Aleksandar Vu?i? and Ilham Aliyev,” said Minister said ?edovi? Handanovi?. “Beyond our excellent political ties and common interests, we have significantly strengthened our economic cooperation, with energy being a key focus.”

She recalled that last year, agreements were signed in Baku between relevant ministries and gas companies, securing up to 400 million cubic metres of gas per year for Serbia from Azerbaijan until 2026, with the potential to increase this to one billion cubic meters annually afterward.

“The contracts signed between Srbijagas and SOCAR ensure additional security for Serbia’s gas supply during the coming winter, as we will be able to count on one million cubic meters of gas per day from Azerbaijan, from 1 November to 31 March,” she added.

The minister also emphasised that the signing of the Memorandum extends energy cooperation into the green energy sector.

“This agreement opens up wide opportunities for collaboration on the energy transition, including joint investments in green energy, the adoption of new green technologies, carbon capture and storage, e-mobility, energy storage and more. This comprehensive and strategic energy partnership will further strengthen the bilateral relations between Serbia and Azerbaijan,” she explained.

Another key topic discussed during the bilateral meeting was the Green Energy Corridor, which will connect Azerbaijan with Central and Eastern Europe.

“Serbia has the potential to play an important role in this project due to its strategic geographic position,” the minister pointed out. “In the coming years, we plan to enhance interconnections on the transmission network with Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria. With the completion of the Trans-Balkan Corridor, we will also increase transmission capacities to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and indirectly to Italy.”

The ministers also discussed the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), to be held in Azerbaijan in November, where key global initiatives for the energy transition will be launched.