&bdquo ;Energy is the backbone of any economy and is the basis of countries' security. Thanks to the strengthening of the strategic partnership at the regional level, we will be better coordinated and have common solutions and answers to address energy challenges. Investments and better connectivity between producing regions and consuming regions of natural gas and green energy will guarantee energy security. In this way, consumers and businesses will have affordable and predictable energy supplies.
This is what Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov said to the participants in the ministerial session of the first Istanbul Energy Forum.
The event is organized by the Anatolian Agency and the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. It was attended by the President of the Republic of Turkey N. Pr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey Dr. Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazob, Minister of Oil and Natural Gas of Libya Dr. Khalifa Abdulsadeq, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Levan Devitashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjártó, Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia Dubravka Handanovic, the Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, the Minister of Energy of Moldova Viktor Parlikov.
He reminded the conference participants that during COP29, Bulgaria announced an unofficial document to promote energy connectivity dialogues. “Improving connectivity in the transmission of electricity in the corridor from south to north and integrating renewable energy into the system will also ensure more affordable energy for consumers in the region,”, it became clear from his words.
The Bulgarian Energy Minister organized a quadrilateral meeting to discuss his new initiative for a separate energy corridor between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Bulgaria for the transfer of green energy. During it, Minister Vladimir Malinov and his colleagues - the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey Dr. Alparslan Bayraktar, the Azerbaijani Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov and the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Levan Davitashvili were categorical that the joint activities of the countries will guarantee energy security and affordable prices for consumers in the region. In the framework of a bilateral meeting, the Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó expressed the support of the Hungarian side for the accession of Bulgaria to the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Green Corridor, as well as readiness to join the initiative of Minister Malinov for a second corridor.
Within the forum, Minister Malinov held a bilateral meeting with the Turkish Energy Minister Dr. Alparslan Bayraktar. The two discussed the development of bilateral energy relations between the countries in all areas of mutual interest as a basis for energy security in the region. The main focus of the conversation was the increase in electricity and gas connectivity between the two countries. Malinov again raised the issue of renegotiation of the agreement between the companies "Bulgargaz" EAD and "Botash". They united around the fact that expert talks between the companies continue in a constructive spirit.