LACHIN, Azerbaijan, June 1. Azerbaijan's Lachin district has held a ceremony for the foundation laying of a small hydroelectric power plant, Trend reports from the event's site.
The foundation-laying ceremony for the Malibay small hydroelectric power plant took place as part of the project to operate five small hydroelectric power plants in Azerbaijan's Kalbajar and Lachin districts.
Among the attendees were Deputy Minister of Economy Anar Akhundov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Lachin district Masim Mammadov, Executive Director of Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC Ulvi Mansurov, Chairman of the Board of Demiroren Yatırım Holding Yıldırım Demiroren, Head of Arges Enerji Team LLC Mehmet Fehmi Ozata, and representatives from specialized units of the Ministry of Economy.
It was highlighted that, under the guidance of President Ilham Aliyev, the liberated territories are undergoing successful transformation into alternative and eco-friendly energy zones. A modern power supply system is being established to enhance regional infrastructure. Hydropower plants play a vital role in supplying green electricity, capitalizing on the abundant hydropower potential of rivers in the liberated areas, thereby boosting project efficiency. Collaboration with private investors is crucial in this endeavor.
The project to rehabilitate and operate small hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) in Kalbajar and Lachin was underscored as yet another testament to the Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood. This marks the first joint HPP project with private sector involvement in the liberated territories.
The commissioning of the Malibay station, the foundation of which was laid within the first phase of the project, will provide electricity to about 7,000 homes.
To note, last December, Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC, Demiroren Yatırım Holding, and Arges Enerji Team (Türkiye) signed a Joint Participation Agreement, according to which five small HPPs will be put into operation on the Hakari and Tartar rivers.
The total budget allocated for the project amounts to 25 million manat or $14.7 million. In its entirety, the project aims to commission five stations with a combined capacity of 13.8 MW by the year 2025. These stations are expected to have a service life of 30 years, and the project implementation will generate 25 new employment opportunities.
The project's first phase involves constructing the Malibay HPP on the Zabukh river in Lachin district, with a capacity of 5.1 MW. In the subsequent stage, the Galacha 2 HPP (3.4 MW), Minkend HPP (1.8 MW), and Galacha 1 HPP (1.1 MW) are planned for construction. The third phase includes the construction of the Tartar 1 (2.4 MW) small HPP on the Tartar river in Kalbajar district.
Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
