Türkiye and Azerbaijan are broadening their energy collaboration, moving beyond oil and gas to establish a robust electricity transmission network and green energy corridors. This strategic expansion of the electricity corridor was highlighted by Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, during his address at the opening of Baku Energy Week on 1st June 2026.
Bayraktar announced plans to create an “electricity version of TANAP,” pointing to the successful Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline that facilitates the transit of Azerbaijani gas to Europe via Türkiye. He indicated that more details about this ambitious electricity corridor project, designed to carry electricity resources to Türkiye and onwards to Europe, would be unveiled in the coming weeks and months. The potential future extension of this corridor to Central Asia was also mentioned, underscoring its role in enhancing electricity trade and energy security on a regional scale.
To support this enhanced energy transit, Türkiye is preparing for a substantial upgrade of its electricity transmission and distribution systems. The nation plans to invest approximately $30 billion over the next decade to accommodate increased energy output from renewable sources and nuclear power. Furthermore, Ankara intends to bolster its electricity transmission connections with eastern neighbors, specifically Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as with its European neighbor, Bulgaria, to facilitate the trade of surplus energy. This focus on infrastructure development is crucial for enabling a seamless electricity corridor.
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a message to the conference, emphasized the anticipated contribution of the proposed Green Electricity Transmission and Trade project linking Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Bulgaria to the overall energy security of the wider region. Minister Bayraktar lauded the “exemplary” energy cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, citing their track record of successful major energy infrastructure projects such as TANAP, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline. He reiterated that this collaboration significantly bolsters both Türkiye’s and Europe’s energy supply security.
