Oil Workers' Day: Glorious page in Azerbaijan's energy history

Today, on September 20, Azerbaijan celebrates the professional holiday of oil industry workers - Oil Workers' Day, Report informs. This date was not chosen by chance - 31 years ago on this day, the Contract of the Century was signed, which determined the future of our country and transformed it into one of the leading players on the global energy map. That contract opened a new economic stage in the history of Azerbaijan's independence, strengthened its statehood, and gave a powerful boost to the welfare of the people. But the meaning of Oil Worker's Day is not limited to this contract alone. The history of Azerbaijani oil began back in the 19th century with the flames rising from the Baku lands.

A brief look at history

The first industrial development of oil fields was also carried out in Baku. At the beginning of the 20th century, Azerbaijan earned the title of the oil capital of the world. The 11 million tons of oil produced in 1901 accounted for more than half of global production. During this period, Baku was not just a city but the energy center of the world.

However, history has not always been smooth. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the transition to a new economic system posed great difficulties for Azerbaijan. It was at this time - in 1994 that the signed "Contract of the Century" became a turning point for our people. Cooperation with leading global companies on the development of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli fields brought new life to Azerbaijan's oil industry. Modern infrastructure was created, the volume and efficiency of production increased, and billions of dollars in investments were attracted to the country. These revenues strengthened Azerbaijan's state budget, opening up broad opportunities for social programs and infrastructure projects. The export of energy resources transformed our country into a reliable partner in the world. Most importantly, these successes served to strengthen the Azerbaijani state and enhance its international authority.

Recent indicators in oil and gas production

Today, Azerbaijan is an important player in the global energy market. As one of the largest oil exporters in the Caspian Sea region, our country plays a strategic role through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and other international projects. Through the BTC pipeline alone, 605 million tons of crude oil have been supplied to the world market since 2006, which once again confirms Azerbaijan's energy power.

The Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli field block, which has produced hundreds of millions of tons of oil and hundreds of billions of cubic meters of gas, has transformed Azerbaijan into a center on the regional energy map. SOCAR is the largest shareholder in this project, and this fact strengthens our country's control over its energy future. In the first half of 2025, about $60 million was spent on operational expenses for the BTC pipeline, and $30 million on capital expenses. The 1,768 km BTC pipeline transported a total of about 4.6 billion barrels of crude oil from its commissioning in June 2006 until the end of June 2025. From this volume, 6,007 tankers were loaded in Ceyhan and sent to world markets. In the first half of this year, about 13 million tons (106 million barrels) of crude oil and condensate were exported via BTC.

These volumes were loaded onto 145 tankers at the Ceyhan terminal and sent to markets. From the start of operation of the ACG field block until September 1, 2025, that is, over 334 months, 612.2 million tons of crude oil and 238.7 billion cubic meters of associated gas were produced. About 60 billion cubic meters of the produced gas was transferred to SOCAR free of charge as commercial gas. The rest was injected back into the reservoirs through technical wells to maintain reservoir pressure. Currently, SOCAR owns the largest share in the ACG contract – 31.65%. Oil production at the field is carried out using 7 platforms. The lowest production is at the Chirag platform, operating since 1997 - it produces 20,000 barrels of oil per day (1 million tons per year). The highest indicator is recorded at the Central Azeri platform - daily production is 86 thousand barrels, and annual production is approximately 4.3 million tons.

Looking to the future: gas and renewable energy

However, the world is changing. New challenges in the energy market – declining demand for oil, the emergence of renewable sources – are directing Azerbaijan towards new strategies. Our country's priority now is not only oil but also the development of the gas industry, expansion of gas exports, and increased investment in alternative energy.

A day of national pride

Thus, Oil Worker's Day is not just a professional holiday, but also a day of respect for Azerbaijan's oil workers, the people who are writing the chronicle of "black gold." This day also reminds us of the strength of our state, the will of our people, and the rich energy history that we leave as a legacy to future generations. The "Contract of the Century," signed 31 years ago, has already fully proven itself – strengthening Azerbaijan as a strong and independent state. And now Azerbaijan's oil workers are again at the forefront to meet the challenges of the new century – this time for a greener, sustainable, and innovative energy future.