The Baku Summer Energy School is sometimes also called the "United Nations of Energy", said Deputy Energy Minister Elnur Soltanov during his speech at the event dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Baku Summer Energy School organised by ADA University's Institute for Development and Diplomacy, Report informs. He spoke about Azerbaijan's energy history, the role of oil in the country's development, and its strategic choices.
Referring to the historical roots of Azerbaijan's reputation as the "Land of Fire", he noted that the Prometheus myth in Greek mythology also carries symbolic connections to the Caucasus and Azerbaijan. "Prometheus was chained to the Caucasus mountains for stealing fire from the gods and bringing it to humanity. I believe that this was the Azerbaijani part of the Caucasus, because the ancient Greeks knew that oil and gas naturally seeped there. Fire has always been present in Azerbaijan."
The Deputy Minister stressed that throughout its history, Azerbaijan has managed to turn its energy resources into an advantage.
Soltanov recalled that the world's first industrially drilled oil well was commissioned in Azerbaijan in 1846, years before the famous oil well in Pennsylvania. According to him, the rapid development of Baku's oil industry in the 19th century attracted the world's best engineers, architects, and scientists to the city. "Within a few years, Baku became one of the most vibrant cities in the world. As a result of this development, in 1918 Azerbaijan established the first democratic republic in the entire Muslim world."
The Deputy Minister also highlighted Azerbaijan's significant role in World War II, noting that in 1941, more than 80% of the oil used by the Eastern Front fighting Nazi Germany came from Azerbaijan.
Turning to modern times, he stated that in the 1990s, Azerbaijan managed to transform its energy resources into a factor serving national interests through sound strategic decisions. "Oil was both an opportunity and a curse. It is impossible to assess the occupation Azerbaijan faced in the 1990s separately from the oil factor. But the country made strategic choices. As a result, oil and natural gas became a source of value for Azerbaijan, the region, and the world. Ultimately, this was one of the key factors that enabled the liberation of our lands," Elnur Soltanov added.
https://report.az/en/energy/soltanov-azerbaijan-turned-oil-into-geopolitical-power