Slovakia Secures Azerbaijani Gas Supply, Prepares for Disruption of Russian Gas Transit
Slovakia is diversifying its source its gas supplies, securing a new gas route from Azerbaijan. With the looming expiration of a gas transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia at the end of this year, Slovakia is seeking to reduce its dependence on inconsistent Russian gas supplies.
State-owned Slovak gas company SPP announced a pilot deal with Azerbaijan’s SOCAR to bring gas to Slovakia.
”This cooperation is an important step in our strategy to diversify gas supplies and prepare for possibility of a disruption of the transit through Ukraine,” SPP
The Slovak Gas Industry is not
## Slovakia Turns to Azerbaijan for Gas **Interviewer:** Joining us today is Alex Reed, an expert on energy security in Eastern Europe. Slovakia has just announced a new gas supply deal with Azerbaijan. Tell us, what does this mean for Slovakia in light of the expiring gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine? **Alex Reed:** It’s a significant move, showing Slovakia’s commitment to securing its energy future. Relying solely on Russian gas transit through Ukraine has become increasingly unreliable, both politically and geographically. This Azerbaijani deal is a crucial step in strengthening Slovakia’s energy independence and diversifying its sourcing, reducing vulnerabilities. **Interviewer:** How impactful do you think this new deal will be in the short and long term? “
What are the immediate benefits Slovakia expects to gain from the new gas supply deal with Azerbaijan?