Two projects on the recoverable energy sources were signed in Baku on 17 January 2007. The documents were signed by the Azerbaijani Minister for Industry & Energy, Natik Aliyev and the UNDP Resident Co-ordinator, Marko Borsotti. At present the level of water energy sources usage in the country is very low. There is the likelihood for a generation of 4-5bln KW/h per year of this type of electricity the Minister stated.
The Government of Norway has allocated $1.5mln in financial assistance to the project Technical Assistance to the Development of Small Water Energy Systems in Azerbaijan'. The project will promote a healthy climate in hydro-power engineering. There are also plans to improve the legal system, attract investments and carry out one or several pilot projects to achieve these objectives.
UNDP and the Global Ecological Foundation have allocated $45,000 in financial assistance to the project Technical Assistance to Removal of Obstacles in the Development of Long- and Medium-term wind energy in Azerbaijan'. It is also scheduled to develop a plan for the removal of law and institutional problems in this direction to the amount of $1mln.
Both projects will be brought in line with the state program of Azerbaijan on the use of alternative and recoverable energy sources. They will promote the development of the non-oil sector, ecologically pure products and diversification of energy resources.
The Ministry of Industry & Energy, UNDP, the Government of Norway, the Ministry of Economic Development, the National Academy of Sciences and Azerenerji Company will be involved in the implementation of projects.
