Prime Minister Edi Rama addresses 10th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan

Prime Minister Rama is visiting Baku, Azerbaijan, invited by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as a guest of honor at the 10th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting, as well as to discuss progress of joint energy projects.

In his remarks at the event, PM Rama noted that Albania is strategically positioned along the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, a vital link along the Southern gas Corridor, attracting major investment in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure development projects.

A feasibility study in gasification of the south-eastern Albanian region of Korça has been already finalized as an initial step towards Albania's gasification for household consumption, while the study on construction of the natural gas pipeline connecting TAP with Vlora Thermal Power Plant is also nearing completion and work is underway to expand capacities of the existing thermal power plant in the coastal city.

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Dear President Aliyev! Dear friend and dear friends! I could not be more humble by the hospitality extended to me today and I could not be more honored by the words the President used to describe the nature of the Azerbaijan-Albania relationship, as well as our personal relationship.

Eight years ago, precisely at the third Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council, President Aliyev said, I quote: "Southern Gas Corridor establishes a very unique, very special format of international cooperation. This new experience of cooperation between countries, companies, and financial institutions will continue in many other areas."

And indeed, this "new silk road" of energy, namely the Southern Gas Corridor has become a bridge of intense cooperation, bringing countries, companies, international financial institutions closer together in a format that only increases the aspirations and opportunities it offers.

Today, this format has turned into a bridge, with the new component of green energy becoming its dimension.

Today, we can all witness that the SGC has already improved the lives of many people and enhanced Europe's safety. As Europe is expanding its imports of liquefied natural gas, the Southern Gas Corridor will surely be one of the few reliable and competitive sources of pipeline gas to the European Union.

Considering that the share of gas transported to Europe from Russia will decrease from 40 to eight percent and will soon be zero, and with the current relevance of ecological and decarbonization issues, Azerbaijani gas and the Caspian Basin play a crucial role in our shared future. As far as my country is concerned, we are strategically positioned on the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline route, which is a vital link along the Southern Gas Corridor. We certainly aim at further capitalizing on this transforming corridor, guiding investments towards renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure development projects.

Allow me also to share with you the fact that our Azerbaijani friends have been truly precious with their technical expertise to design the best possible scenarios to make use of our existing infrastructure and adapt it in a bid to meet current energy challenges and we couldn't be more than so grateful for that.

We in Albania are currently seeking to move fast forward and deliver on the country's gasification project and thanks to President Aliyev's support for the gasification process.

Let me conclude by joining what President Aliyev noted by highlighting Azerbaijan's initiative to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP).

Such an initiative is really meaningful, considering that Azerbaijan, a country so rich in fossil fuel, actually takes a step forward and says "let's find out together how the green energy transition can be real, can be sustainable and beneficial for the rest of the entire world.

This is a very welcome initiative on the part of Azerbaijan and our extremely precious host.

Thank you very much Mr. President! Thank you everyone!

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