Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) hosted an international inauguration conference on the ‘One Company, One Country’ project.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and bp jointly organised the conference as a part of the Advancing Global Methane Reduction (AGMR) initiative under the Methane Guiding Principles (MGP), which SOCAR is a member of.

The event convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including oil and gas operators, service providers, and representatives of the operating companies and joint ventures across Azerbaijan.

In their opening addresses, SOCAR’s Vice-President Afgan Isayev and bp’s Vice-President for Communications and External Affairs for the Caspian region, Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, provided an in-depth overview of the project’s goals and objectives.

The collaboration between SOCAR and bp focuses on instigating methane emissions measurement, reporting, and reduction strategies among Azerbaijani oil and gas operators. The initiative also aims to elevate industry knowledge and skillsets while promoting best practices in environmental stewardship.

The conference also reflected on the successful collaboration of both companies at COP-28, highlighting their shared commitment to combating climate change.

A highlight of the conference was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SOCAR and bp to enhance cooperation in environmental protection, particularly in reducing global methane emissions.

Keynote discussions at the conference emphasized the MGP’s role in identifying key priorities for mitigating methane emissions throughout the entire value chain of natural gas, from production to consumption. As MGP members, SOCAR and bp are set to take a leading role in driving methane reduction efforts, within their operations and among service providers in Azerbaijan.