In his comments to the Azerbaijani news agency Trend, Khayotjon Ibragimov, head of the Center for Energy Diplomacy and Geopolitics, emphasized that the Central Asia-Azerbaijan green energy corridor project is one of Uzbekistan’s strategic priorities. According to him, new participants can be expected to officially join this initiative in the near future, as a number of countries are showing growing interest amid increasing demand for electricity. Preliminary calculations, as noted by the expert, confirm the high potential of the project in the context of rapid growth in renewable energy generation in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and sustained demand for green electricity in Europe. The strategic partnership agreement between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan on the production and transmission of green energy, signed in Baku in November 2024 as part of COP29, was an important milestone in the integration of energy systems and the formation of a new architecture for clean energy exports to the EU.
Ibrahimov separately noted that Azerbaijan has the potential to become a key partner for Uzbekistan in the export of both traditional energy resources and renewable energy to international markets. He stressed that one of the most promising areas of bilateral cooperation is the deepening of cooperation in the field of oil and gas transportation and the development of export routes, where Azerbaijan, with its advantageous geographical location and developed infrastructure, plays the role of a strategic transit hub, providing access to the European Union market, among others. At the same time, cooperation in the field of renewable energy sources is becoming an important component of the partnership between Baku and Tashkent: both countries are actively investing in solar, wind, and hydro energy, which opens up opportunities for joint projects, exchange of technologies and experience, and, in the long term, for the development of hydrogen energy.
The expert also pointed out that the Green Energy Corridor and broader energy cooperation are not only tools for diversifying export routes, but also drivers for modernizing the region's energy infrastructure. This involves joint efforts to upgrade power plants, transmission and distribution networks, introduce digital solutions for energy system management, and possibly create joint investment funds to finance large-scale projects in the field of renewable energy and infrastructure, including the development of submarine cables and strengthening the role of the Middle Corridor. According to Ibragimov, Azerbaijan’s participation in the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and its active role in the regional energy agenda are creating a new format for cooperation, in which the countries of Central Asia are becoming more closely integrated with the South Caucasus. This not only enhances the energy security and sovereignty of Uzbekistan and the region as a whole, but also strengthens their position in the global economic system.
* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.
