US and Azerbaijan have to write new chapter in energy story - former US ambassador

Baku, March 24 - Neftegaz.RU. The US and Azerbaijan have to be writing a new chapter in the energy story as part of efforts on addressing climate change, former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta told Trend.
Cekuta stated:

• There is considerable solar & wind capacity in Azerbaijan and I find it interesting to hear about the discussions regarding producing hydrogen in the Caspian and exporting it via pipelines as a new, clean source of energy
• The world is going to need oil & gas for some years to come, but we have to be thinking about what comes next and making that transition

According to him, the US and Azerbaijan are working closely to ensure the supply of needed oil & gas from the Caspian Sea to European and other countries, thus improving European and global energy security.
The former ambassador said:

• Cooperation on the energy front certainly has been one of the core aspects of our relationship
• The wisdom and value of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor are readily visible in the face of the current global energy realities
• I know a number of countries have been approaching Azerbaijan looking for increased energy supplies, for example of natural gas

The former ambassador emphasized that the US appreciates the critical role of Azerbaijan's geostrategic location between Russia to the north and Iran to the south for trans-Eurasian transportation, communications, and trade.
He pointed out:

• While our 2 countries have developed strong partnerships over the last 30 years, it is important to be thinking about how the picture in the Caucasus, in the Middle East, in Central Asia, in Europe is changing and what the US and Azerbaijan can do to ensure peace and security