Slovakia is considering Azerbaijan as one of three potential suppliers for a long-term natural gas contract of about 1 billion cubic meters a year, as Bratislava prepares for the end of Russian gas imports under European Union rules.
Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said on Oct. 9 that Azerbaijan, Algeria and the United States were under consideration. Slovakia expects to need the replacement contract from September 2027, but it has not selected a supplier or agreed on commercial terms.
The proposed volume is significant for Slovakia. Russian supplies previously accounted for most of the country’s roughly 3 billion cubic meters of annual gas imports, meaning a 1 billion-cubic-meter contract could cover a substantial share of demand.
Why Slovakia Needs a New Contract
Slovakia’s state supplier SPP has a long-term agreement with Russia’s Gazprom that can be used until September 2027. EU rules call for Russian liquefied natural gas imports to end by the close of 2026, followed by the phaseout of pipeline supplies in late 2027.
Sakova said SPP currently has 17.5 terawatt-hours of gas in storage, equal to about 35% of Slovakia’s annual consumption. The reserves provide protection for the coming heating season, but they do not replace the need for a durable supply arrangement after 2027.
Azerbaijan Remains on the Shortlist
Talks between Baku and Bratislava are not new. Slovak officials said in July that negotiations covered possible Azerbaijani deliveries of about 1.2 billion cubic meters annually after 2027. Azerbaijan has also supplied gas to Slovakia through a short-term arrangement.
The latest statement adds a firm purchasing target and confirms that Azerbaijan remains on Slovakia’s shortlist. It does not mean that a contract has been signed or that the full volume will necessarily come from Azerbaijan.
Price, available production, transmission capacity and the reliability of routes into Central Europe will determine the final choice. Slovakia is also evaluating Algerian gas and U.S. liquefied natural gas as it seeks a diversified portfolio rather than dependence on a single supplier.
Why It Matters for Azerbaijan
A long-term Slovak contract would expand Azerbaijan’s position in Central Europe’s energy market and strengthen the commercial case for additional export capacity. It would also add a concrete buyer to the EU’s effort to replace Russian fuel.
For Bratislava, the decision is both an energy-security and cost question: the country must secure enough gas before its Russian contract expires while limiting the higher transport and infrastructure costs associated with alternative supplies.
Sources: Vesti Baku, Reuters, and TASR.