After last year바카라s Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28) event in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this year바카라s COP-29 is being hosted by another petro-state, Azerbaijan, in its capital Baku. Azerbaijan is one of the oldest oil-producing countries in the world, with its oil and gas production accounting for nearly 47.8 per cent of its GDP and over 92.5 per cent of its export revenue in 2022. Postage stamps and sheets issued this year by the country provide a fascinating look at the evolution of the oil and gas industry in the country and its transition towards green energy.
One sheet, published in September this year as part of a series, reads 바카라History of the Oil Industry바카라 and it bears three stamps. These stamps mark key milestones in the development of the oil industry as indicated by their captions that translate into: 바카라The first industrially drilled oil well in the world, 1846바카라, 바카라The world바카라s first oil tanker 바카라Zoroaster바카라, 1877바카라 and 바카라World record for oil production, 1901바카라. Historically, oil seepage had been observed on the Absheron Peninsula for many centuries, and the Fire Temple of Baku was known for the eternal flames that were fed by fossil fuels oozing through the underlying ground. The Nobel brothers entered the oil business in Baku in the late 19th century, and it was Ludvig Nobel who commissioned the world바카라s first bulk oil tanker 바카라Zoroaster바카라. In the process, Ludvig earned himself the title of the 바카라Oil King of Baku바카라.
Another set of stamps, again issued in September this year, commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Contract of the Century. In 1994, after independence of the country from the Soviet Union, Heydar Aliyev, the then president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, pushed forward the 바카라Contract of the Century바카라 initiative, which would prove to be transformative for the country바카라s economy. The contract is a production-sharing agreement on the Joint Development of the Deep Water Reserves of Azeri, Chirag and Gunashli. It involves 13 leading oil companies, including SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan), AMOCO, BP, McDermott, and Exxon, registering participation from eight countries such as the US, the UK, Russia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, among others. In his speech on the occasion of the signing of the contract, President Heydar Aliyev stressed, 바카라By signing this contract we want to display to the world once again that Azerbaijan is a sovereign, completely independent state and her people are the right owners of their natural resources.바카라
Additionally, two sheets from the September 2024 issue display the Caspian Sea Oil Platforms and mark the 75th anniversary of the Oil Rocks. Postage stamps provide a window into the history and culture of a state. They commemorate the achievements of the country, celebrate the contributions of its famous people and even propagate awareness messages for the public by featuring related imagery in miniature format. When viewed collectively, these stamps offer an interesting visual representation of the issuing country바카라s past, its current socio-economic conditions and its future aspirations. And Azerbaijan is no different.
Some of the earliest stamps in the world associated with the modern petroleum industry, dating all the way back to around 1920, have been issued by Azerbaijan. Over the years, Azerbaijan has exhibited a rich tradition of publishing a number of oil and gas-related postage stamps and sheets, much to the delight of the small global community of petro-philatelists. These stamps offer an impressive range to the interested collector바카라they go from displaying images of oil barons such as the Nobel Brothers and Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, celebrating key anniversaries of the Contract of the Century and the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) to honouring their leader Heydar Aliyev바카라who played a key role in shaping the oil strategy of the country바카라through joint issues with the SOCAR.
While fossil fuels are an important resource for the country, Azerbaijan has welcomed the opportunity to host the climate summit this year to showcase its efforts towards a green economy. In the COP-29 Presidency Action Agenda Letter of September 2024, the COP-29 President Mukhtar Babayev states, 바카라Climate action is a common commitment that requires action and leadership from everyone. Through the COP-29 Action Agenda, we wish to give everyone an opportunity to sign up, speak up and step up. This is how we seek to build momentum to enhance ambition and enable action and move forward in solidarity for a green world.바카라
President Ilham Aliyev declared 2024 as the 바카라Year of Solidarity for a Green World바카라 and promoted this theme by issuing postage stamps. The stamps display solar panels, windmills and recycling elements. The green colour features prominently on these stamps in a bid to support the green economy. As Azerbaijan takes on the mantle of the host of the climate summit this year, one hopes that the country will walk the talk and strive to realise progress towards energy transition and net zero ambitions.
(Views expressed are personal)
Sona Maniar is an Engineer and an MBA and has a keen interest in Energy, Writing and Philately
