Baku Energy Forum: Strategic Dialogue among Global Energy Sector Leaders
3 june 2025
0000
On June 3, the 30th Anniversary Baku Energy Forum opened at the Baku Congress Center. The event is held within the framework of Baku Energy Week — the Caspian region’s key industry event, which annually brings together leaders of the global energy sector. This year, Baku Energy Week brings together three major events: the 30th Anniversary Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition, the 13th Caspian International Energy and Green Energy Exhibition, and the 30th Anniversary Baku Energy Forum.
The Forum is a traditional platform for strategic dialogue among key representatives of the energy sector.
The ministerial plenary session titled “Global Cooperation for a Sustainable and Secure Energy Future” was moderated by Matthew Bryza, a member of the Board of Directors of the Jamestown Foundation.
Delivering the opening address at the forum was Thomas Herd, Advisor to the Board of Directors of ICA Events Group, who emphasized the international importance of the Forum and the continued attention it receives from the Head of State, Ilham Aliyev. Mr. Herd expressed his gratitude to the event's sponsors and congratulated participants on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary Energy Forum.
Chairing the forum and serving as its keynote speaker was the Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, Parviz Shahbazov. In his address, Mr. Shahbazov highlighted the role of the BTC and BTE pipelines in the export of oil to Europe. Touching upon the development of energy infrastructure, he emphasized that Azerbaijan is entering a new phase in the development of gas fields, with five projects underway. Notably, alternative energy sources are not replacing but complementing traditional ones. In this framework, the diversification of the energy sector is being expanded not only by source but also by type.
Looking ahead, domestic energy authorities plan to build two additional solar power plants, establish energy interconnections through Nakhchivan and Zangezur and other regions, and organize data transmission via fiber-optic networks.
Among the speakers of the forum’s first segment were the Federal Minister of Energy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Ali Pervez Malik; the Minister of Environment, Biodiversity, and Climate Action of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Viriato Luís Soares Cassamá; the Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Abdullahi Bidhan Warsame; the National Security Advisor of the Czech Republic, Tomáš Pojar; and the Director of the Energy Platform Task Force and International Relations at the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission, Cristina Lobillo Borrero.
Speakers discussed a number of key topics, including new models of cooperation and partnerships for ensuring global energy security, the strengthening of cross-border partnerships in oil and gas exploration and production to enhance global energy resilience, the development of international energy alliances to address common social challenges, and the strengthening of partnerships to enhance the resilience of energy supply chains, among others.
Deputy Minister of Energy of Turkey, Ahmet Berat, emphasized the importance of investment in renewable energy sources and underlined the role of modern global projects in ensuring global energy security. In this regard, TANAP, BTC, Eskişehir, and NAKES Turkey were cited as successful examples of regional cooperation. Turkey’s participation in oil exploration in Somalia, the related agreement of which will be discussed in both national parliaments, is expected to bring mutual benefits.
The Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Abdullahi Bidhan Warsame, supplemented his Turkish colleague’s statement by outlining measures to expand access to electricity in Somalia, where an energy reform is underway and a solar power plant is currently under construction.
According to the Minister of Environment, Biodiversity, and Climate Action of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Viriato Luís Soares Cassamá, it is now crucial to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. His country calls for a stronger international alliance to ensure energy security.
Cristina Lobillo Borrero, Director of the Energy Platform Task Force and International Relations at the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission, emphasized Azerbaijan’s role as a reliable partner in the pursuit of global energy security. She presented statistics on fossil fuel imports into the EU, reminded delegates of the recent high-profile COP29 forum, and stressed the need for transparency in global energy transportation chains.
National Security Advisor of the Czech Republic, Tomáš Pojar, raised the issue of transnational deliveries of oil, gas, coal, and nuclear fuel, stating that supply security is a matter of national importance. In this context, he underlined the strategic value of the corridor between Central Asia and Europe, noting that the Czech Republic is the second-largest importer of Azerbaijani oil.
The Baku Energy Forum is held with the support of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and with the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) as the general partner. The event is also supported by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The Forum serves as a key platform for presenting the strategic priorities of Azerbaijan’s energy policy and the green energy potential of the Caspian region to the international community.
The discussions planned within the Forum are of great importance in terms of implementing innovations in the energy sector, strengthening regional and global cooperation, and building sustainable and resilient energy systems.
A plenary session titled “Global Cooperation for a Resilient and Sustainable Energy Future”, chaired by Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, will be held as part of the Forum. In addition, Rovshan Najaf, President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), will deliver a keynote speech during the session “Executive Talks: Path to a Sustainable Energy Ecosystem”.
Environmental issues, the threats they pose to the planet, possible solutions, as well as topics related to green energy, hold a special place in the Baku Energy Forum’s agenda. For several years now, the Forum has been implementing the "Zero Waste" project — a set of principles aimed at preventing waste generation. The Baku Congress Center, which hosts the Forum, was itself built according to an eco-concept. For example, the solar panels installed on its roof generate enough energy to reduce the building's overall energy consumption.
The Forum offers a unique opportunity to explore ideas shaping the future. At the invitation of the organizers, the 30th Anniversary Baku Energy Forum will feature Kjell A. Nordström — a globally recognized expert in global business, Swedish economist, futurist, and author of international bestsellers.
Baku Energy Week is organized by Iteca Caspian and its international partners — ICA Events and CEM FZ LLC.
Baku Energy Week also holds the quality label of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), which confirms the high level of event organization and the reliability of the presented statistics.
AZ
EN
RU
