Transgaz can provide Azerbaijan with the infrastructure needed to safely and efficiently deliver Azerbaijani natural gas to the European market, Niculae Havrileț, secretary of state for the Romanian Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment, was quoted as saying by the Trend news agency.

Havrileț stressed that the establishment of an energy transport corridor between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea – via Romania and Bulgaria – would significantly strengthen the energy security of Romania, but also of the European Union.

Also, the Azerbaijani state company SOCAR can become a bridge to Azerbaijan and the Caspian region for Transgaz, the secretary of state added, according to umbrela-strategica.ro. “I mentioned earlier that Romania is interested in an extensive cooperation with Azerbaijan, a country with a significant potential in terms of diversifying transport routes and energy supply sources for the European market. I mentioned the BRUA project and the RO-BG and RO-HU interconnectors. The establishment of an energy transport corridor between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, which would capitalize on the energy resources of the Caspian Sea area, on the one hand, and the fruition of the strategic position of Romania and Bulgaria on the Black Sea, on the other hand, has a significant potential of increasing energy security both for Romania and for Bulgaria and for the European Union in general,” the Romanian official explained.

Havrileț mentioned that the establishment of a tripartite working group Azerbaijan-Romania-Bulgaria would therefore be a natural step and the appropriate framework for cooperation to shape the gas transport corridors linking Azerbaijan, via Bulgaria and Romania, with the Balkan region and Central Europe.