The rapidly developing Middle Corridor trade routes connecting Asia’ to Europe’ through the Southern Gas Corridor and the Caspian region are emerging as strategic energy transport bridges amid global disruptions, but these energy transit systems and their safety require urgent investments in logistics connectivity and infrastructure.
At the Baku Energy Forum’, the increasing importance of the Southern Gas Corridor ’ for European energy security as an alternative to Russian gas was an important issue focusing on future capacity expansion, regional cooperation and the long-term stability of pipeline infrastructure in the wider Caspian region.
Gio Cristofoli, BP’'s Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, told Euronews’e that in the “South Corridor, BTC pipeline and SUPSA pipeline, ’ already has a world-class infrastructure that allows the diversification of energy sources to Europe’, as the geopolitical situation really emphasizes the importance of Azerbaijan” as a key energy center.
The Forum's focus on the Middle Corridor’ also means the rapid development of transport, logistics and infrastructure through railways, ports, pipelines and trade routes as interconnected assets.
The digitalization of new technologies and the rise of artificial intelligence already have a significant impact on the efficiency and security of smarter energy systems through digital pipeline monitoring systems, predictive maintenance platforms, and intelligent operational technologies.
But business leaders at the event said infrastructure modernization would require a significant amount of long-term investment due to increased demand for technologically advanced pipeline systems through automation and intelligent infrastructure management to reduce operational costs and increase efficiency.
In order to maximize production efficiency and maintain long-term operational stability, innovation and advanced technologies have become indispensable, Cristofoli said.
euronews’e, regional leader of BP’, said: “ We use artificial intelligence to develop seismic data to really see where we can drill wells.”
“We bring the latest technology in the use of drilling, robotics and drones for inspection systems that people can't go to. Technology is indeed the key to unlocking volumes in the coming years, ” explained.
Emin Sevdimalıyev, media secretary of Azerbaijan State Oil Company SOCAR’, Euronews’e said: “1990When we first started in ’, the landscape was completely different” and “twenty or thirty years ago, we could only imagine innovations such as cloud computing or artificial intelligence.”
SOCAR also used the forum to announce the signing of several strategic agreements, including the Southern Gas Corridor-linked gas supply project to export Azerbaijani gas to Turkey ’, and a memorandum of understanding with Shell and JPMorgan for future cooperation and financing of strategic projects.
Edward Strachan, Managing Director of ICA Events, said: "Billions of dollars worth of contracts were signed during the opening of “Baku Energy Forum, and these are agreements that have been built as a result of years of cooperation and discussions.
