Prospects of development of alternative energy in Azerbaijan, major trends and innovative solutions in the field of use of the renewable energy were discussed at the joint business-forum held in Baku on September 23 and organized by the State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Caspian European Club. The event was held under the chairmanship of the Head of the State Agency Akim Badalov.
Addressing the business-forum, Akim Badalov, Chairman of the State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, thanked the Caspian European Club for arranging the business-to-government dialogue. He emphasized the necessity of conduction of such meetings within the framework of the Caspian European Club in order to establish much closer and more transparent contact between the government agencies and the private sector. According to him, such dialogue promotes the development of the economy.
Discussed at the meeting were issues of development of alternative energy, prospects of use of renewable energy, related legislative issues as well as issues that were of interest to the Caspian European Club companies.
Akim Badalov spoke in details about the activity of the State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, major aspects of the state policy in the field of use of alternative and renewable energy.
He noted that Azalternativenerji LLC is operating under the State Agency. According to him, the major task of the State Agency is to set state control over alternative and renewable energy field. As to the Azalternativenerji LLC, its task is to implement projects in this field, to carry out design, construction and sale of energy to consumers. In the meantime, the private sector is also engaged in implementation of the alternative and renewable energy related projects.
In the opinion of Akim Badalov, it is important to secure transparency of the activity in the field of alternative and renewable energy. "We have learnt an international experience in this sphere and considered opportunities of its use in conditions of Azerbaijan", he emphasized. Apart from this, a legal framework and efficiency of alternative and renewable energy related projects were studied, Akim Badalov noted.
Issues concerning tariffs and provision of discounts were also considered while studying alternative and renewable energy related projects, the head of the State Agency emphasized. "These are sophisticated technologies which keep constantly progressing. For this reason, it is necessary to prepare human resources for this sphere", he emphasized.
According to him, two projects are currently underway: scientific polygon Gobustan and 21 surveillance systems for evaluating the potential in this sphere.
Akim Badalov reminded that for the first time in the former soviet space the wind polygon was created around Baku and its settlements. The first technological line on production of solar panels installed on the roofing of the sports complex in Baku was launched as early as 1970-80s.
Over 100 mln AZN has already been spent within this sphere.
Apart from this, Azerbaijan undertook an important step and cancelled (for a 10 year period) all customs and tax duties for equipment which is designed for production of renewable energy and supplied to Azerbaijan.
Akim Badalov also answered questions of companies-members of the Caspian European Club, discussed problems that they face. In particular, issues of participation of the business in alternative energy projects were discussed.
Following the outcomes of the meeting, an agreement on creation of the working group for operative addressing of problems that companies face when working with the State Agency was reached.
Addressing the business-forum, Chief Executive Officer of the Caspian European Club Telman Aliyev thanked Akim Badalov for a constructive dialogue as well as for an attention to proposals and requests made by the Caspian European Club companies during the event.
He spoke about the forth-coming II International Caspian Energy Forum - 2014 due in Tbilisi in November. According to him, the program of the conference has a one day agenda and consists of two parts. The first part will cover the development of the oil-gas, energy and environmental sectors. The Caspian European Forum dedicated to the development of the non-oil sector will be held within the framework of the second part of the Forum. He noted that Caspian European Club was established in June 2002 in association with Caspian Energy International Media Group and under intensive support of the largest oil&gas companies operating in the Caspian-Black Sea region. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has been a chairman of Caspian European Club. According to T.Aliyev, Caspian European Club has promoted attraction of oil sector revenues into development of the non-oil sector since its establishment. Caspian European Club is operating in 50 countries around the world, carrying out an active work on maintenance of the dialogue between government agencies and the private sector.
The Caspian European Club honorary membership certificate was given to the Chairman of the State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Besides, new Caspian European Club member companies also received certificates. Executives of companies and representatives of a number of diplomatic agencies accredited in Azerbaijan, particularly from Moldova, Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic, Greece and other countries attended the Caspian European Club event.
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