Türkiye-Azerbaijan friendship continues to be strengthened with strong cooperation in the field of energy. In this context, the Iğdır-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline (“NGP”) Groundbreaking Ceremony was held in Nakhchivan on September 25, 2023, with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President İlham Aliyev.

President Erdoğan and President Aliyev, connected via video to the site of groundbreaking for the Iğdır-Nakhchivan NGP, pressed the button together to begin laying the natural gas pipeline's foundation. At the ceremony held at the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijani President Aliyev stated that the Iğdır-Nakhchivan NGP would give a new impetus to Azerbaijan-Turkey relations and said, "The agreement signed will serve the development of Turkey-Azerbaijan relations. "Nakhchivan's energy security will be guaranteed with the construction of the Iğdır-Nakhchivan NGP, which is an important step in the history of our brotherly relations."

Speaking at the ceremony, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that Turkey-Azerbaijan relations are in an exceptional position and that they continue to work to strengthen relations and cooperation in every field within the framework of the motto "One Nation, Two States". Erdogan continued his words as follows:

“Nakhchivan, which holds an important position in terms of energy lines, has a special place with its strategic importance. Nakhchivan has great potential. We will put this potential to full use. The Iğdır-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline Project, the foundation of which we have just laid, will deepen our partnership and also contribute to European energy security. We have demonstrated our will to develop our cooperation in the fields of transportation, logistics and energy."

Furthermore, during the ceremony, the Memorandum of Understanding for the mutual transmission of electricity produced from renewable energy resources was signed by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar and the Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Perviz Shahbazov.

With the completion of the Iğdır-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline, all of Nakhchivan's annual natural gas need of 500 million cubic meters will be met through Turkey. Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline Construction work includes the construction of approximately 85 kilometers of 16-inch pipeline, including 2 line valve stations, 2 pigging stations and one measuring station.

Tarih: 26/9/2023