SOCAR, TotalEnergies, ADNOC International, and the Turkish company BOTAS signed a sales and purchase agreement for natural gas produced in the Absheron field, located in Azerbaijan.
The pact marks a step forward for the second phase of the gas field’s development and strengthens the country’s role in regional energy supply.
The agreement was signed during Baku Energy Week by Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR; Abdulvahit Fidan, Chairman and General Manager of BOTAS; Martino Panizzi, Senior Vice President of Exploration and Production for Europe at TotalEnergies; and Mohammed Al Aryani, President of International Gas at XRG, ADNOC’s international energy investment arm.
Absheron Production Expected to Start in 2029
The final investment decision for the second phase of the Absheron project is planned for this year. If it proceeds on schedule, annual gas production would begin in 2029 and reach over 4 billion cubic meters.
According to information released by SOCAR, approximately half of the projected production would be allocated to the Turkish market under this agreement. Other regional sources indicate that the pact would last 15 years and involve the total supply of 33 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey starting in 2029.
Turkey Strengthens its Energy Security
The agreement is part of Turkey’s strategy to diversify its natural gas sources and strengthen its position as a regional energy hub.
The supply from Absheron would bring new volumes from the Caspian to the Turkish energy mix, complementing other existing import agreements and routes.
The signing also increases energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey, two countries connected by key infrastructure for gas transport to regional markets. According to Interfax, the gas linked to the agreement would be transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline.
Azerbaijan to Expand Gas Exports
The Absheron field is considered one of Azerbaijan’s largest gas condensate fields. Its second phase of development would allow the country to increase its export capacity and consolidate new long-term supply commitments.
For SOCAR, TotalEnergies, and ADNOC, the progress of Absheron represents an opportunity to develop additional production in the Caspian Sea and respond to the growing regional demand for natural gas.
The project also comes at a time of increased focus on energy security, where buyers are seeking more stable contracts, diversified sources, and suppliers capable of sustaining long-term deliveries.
Caspian Gains Weight in the Regional Market
The expansion of Absheron could strengthen the Caspian Sea’s role as a gas source for Turkey and other nearby markets.
The second phase of the project would not only increase Azerbaijan’s production but also provide greater flexibility to the regional energy system.
With the signing of the agreement, the project partners are moving towards a key stage: the final investment decision. If this materializes during 2026, Absheron could begin supplying new volumes of natural gas from 2029, reinforcing energy cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey, France, and the United Arab Emirates.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/
Photo: https://www.oedigital.com/
