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Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have strengthened their energy partnership with the launch of a joint exploration project in the Ustyurt region, highlighting growing strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The ceremony, held in Tashkent and attended by Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, showcased the deepening ties in the regional energy sector.
During the event, Minister Shahbazov noted that political will and personal trust between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have elevated bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.
The minister highlighted Azerbaijan’s role in the Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State and the opening of the Zangezeur corridor, which strengthens the significance of the Middle Corridor for regional integration.
The joint Ustyurt project between SOCAR and “Uzbekneftegaz” will enhance knowledge and technology exchange in the hydrocarbon sector, boost regional energy integration, and create new opportunities for joint participation in energy supply.
Minister Shahbazov also emphasised the strategic importance of the Trans-Caspian Energy Corridor project, which will connect the electricity systems of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan for the first time.
The initiative is expected to expand Azerbaijan’s transit role and enable the transfer of renewable energy along the Middle Corridor between Asia and Europe.
The project follows the signing of a Production Sharing Agreement on 24 July 2025, which formalised cooperation between SOCAR, “Uzbekneftegaz,” and the Republic of Uzbekistan for geological exploration, development, and production in Uzbek investment blocks.
The ceremony also highlighted other international energy collaborations, involving countries such as Türkiye, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and China.
This joint venture marks a new chapter in Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan energy cooperation, underlining the growing strategic and regional importance of both nations in Central Asia’s energy landscape.
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