Zim pushes for enhanced cooperation with Azerbaijan

Source: Zim pushes for enhanced cooperation with Azerbaijan – herald

Zimpapers Politics Hub

SPEAKER of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has concluded a high-level bilateral mission to Azerbaijan with a strategic push to strengthen Zimbabwe’s energy security and accelerate the country’s industrialisation drive through enhanced cooperation with the energy-rich Eurasian nation.

The visit culminated in a meeting with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov following earlier engagements with executives of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), where both sides explored practical solutions to Zimbabwe’s energy deficit and opportunities for technology transfer, legislative cooperation and renewable energy development.

According to a media release issued by the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Adv Mudenda said Zimbabwe’s delegation was in Azerbaijan on a strategic learning mission to adapt proven energy models to support the country’s industrial transformation under the Second Republic.

“The Zimbabwean delegation was on a strategic learning mission to study Azerbaijan’s thriving energy ecosystem, wherein the objective is to adapt best practices to fast-track Zimbabwe’s industrialisation and modernisation, riding on the cordial bilateral relations that exist between the two Republics,” the statement said.

Adv acknowledged that although Zimbabwe has made significant progress in expanding electricity generation, the country must rapidly increase investment in renewable energy to eliminate power shortages and sustain economic growth.

Minister Shahbazov showcased Azerbaijan’s remarkable energy transition, revealing that the country has signed contracts for 11 new renewable power stations, with two already feeding electricity into the national grid and the remainder expected to be operational by 2027. The projects are projected to add 2 000 megawatts of renewable electricity while saving substantial volumes of natural gas for export.

The Azerbaijani minister also highlighted his country’s target of generating 40 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035, supported by strong parliamentary oversight that subjects all national energy contracts to legislative scrutiny.

Discussions also focused on balancing climate commitments with the developmental needs of emerging economies.

Adv Mudenda argued that African countries should be allowed to utilise their natural resources while embracing modern environmental technologies responsibly.

“Africa must be allowed to utilise its natural resources to progress, provided it is done in a calibrated manner of carbon sequestration, cognisant of modern, science-based environmental demands,” said Adv Mudenda in the statement.

The meeting further underscored the importance of research and innovation in energy development.

Zimbabwean universities, Adv Mudenda said, are pursuing technologies that convert carbon emissions into hydrogen while also exploring lithium beneficiation to support battery manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.

Recognising Zimbabwe’s untapped oil and gas potential, Minister Shahbazov pledged Azerbaijan’s support through specialised workshops involving Zimbabwean legislators, legal experts, energy specialists and academics.

Azerbaijan also committed to sharing its legislative experience in areas covering artificial intelligence, climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable energy development.

The engagements are expected to deepen bilateral cooperation and provide Zimbabwe with valuable technical expertise and legislative models as the country advances its industrialisation agenda through modern, diversified and sustainable energy systems.