Azerbaijan's Energy Geopolitics — John M. Roberts

17. 9. 2026

In this episode, John Roberts examines Azerbaijan’s evolving role in regional energy security, from its traditional position as an oil and gas exporter to emerging opportunities in electricity and renewable energy.

John explores the geopolitical significance of Azerbaijan’s energy partnerships with the European Union, Türkiye, Russia, Iran, Central Asia and China, and considers whether the country can successfully transform itself into a diversified regional energy hub.

John M. Roberts

John M. Roberts is a leading European energy security specialist and researcher, with particular expertise in the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Caspian energy corridors. He is a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and a Senior Partner at Methinks Ltd, a consultancy specialising in the relationship between energy, economic development and politics.

John has extensive experience analysing the intersection of energy, economic development and geopolitics. He has advised and testified on Turkish, Russian, Caspian, Middle Eastern and Kurdish energy security, and has particular expertise in the pipelines connecting, or intended to connect, the Caspian region with Europe, Russia, China and India.

He previously served as Managing Editor at Platts and worked with Financial Times Energy, focusing on energy development and the impact of energy on economic development.

His publications include Caspian Pipelines (1996), Visions & Mirages: The Middle East in a New Era (1995), and Pipeline Politics: The Caspian and Global Energy Security (2014).

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:54 Baku–Novorossiysk Pipeline [oil]

05:29 Baku–Supsa Pipeline [oil]

08:03 Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) Pipeline [oil]

10:47 Baku–Kulevi Rail Corridor [oil]

12:22 Hajigabul–Astara Pipeline [gas]

14:21 Hajigabul–Gazakh–Saguramo Pipeline [gas]

15:08 Hajigabul–Shirvanovka–Mozdok Pipeline [gas]

16:13 South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) [gas]

21:15 Iğdır–Nakhchivan Pipeline [gas]

23:50 Azerbaijan’s Oil and Gas: Significance for the European Union

35:09 Declining Oil Production in Azerbaijan: Challenges and Prospects

39:08 Black Sea Energy Cable

46:31 Azerbaijan and Central Asia: The Uzbek Energy Market

52:18 Could Azerbaijan Revive Its Nuclear Energy Ambitions?

55:23 Green Energy Development

59:40 Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Iran

01:05:25 An Underexplored Area of Energy Research