On September 2, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the 4.3 MW "Zar" Small Hydroelectric Power Station (SHPS) operated by Azerenerji OJSC in Kalbajar and inaugurated the 4.1 MW "Toghanaly" SHPS in the Goygol district via the SCADA system. Additionally, President Ilham Aliyev was briefed on the construction of six new SHPS with a total capacity of 37.5 MW, which are underway in Kalbajar, Lachin, and Aghdara.

President Ilham Aliyev received detailed information about the projects.

In line with this year’s theme, “Green World Solidarity Year,” and in light of Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29, Azerenerji OJSC completed the construction of the “Zar” and “Toghanaly” stations within just one year. These stations, featuring European-manufactured turbines, generators, and digital remote-control systems, are integrated into the national optical cable network and SCADA system through 24-core fiber optic cables.

To ensure a steady water supply for these stations, Azerenerji constructed ecological water intake facilities on the Zar and Kurakchay rivers. Special hydro-technical structures have been built to protect aquatic life and preserve the river ecosystem.

The “Zar” and “Toghanaly” stations are expected to produce up to 25 million kilowatt-hours of green energy annually, saving 5.5 million cubic meters of natural gas and reducing carbon emissions by over 10,000 tons.

A video showcasing the construction and operational aspects of the “Zar” and “Toghanaly” stations was presented, after which President Ilham Aliyev officially commissioned the stations.

The transformation of the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions into carbon-neutral areas throughout the year, ensuring complete green energy production, and the integration of surplus energy into the national grid enhances Azerbaijan’s regional energy independence and contributes positively to environmental protection. This is a significant step towards achieving resilience and ecological sustainability in the country’s energy sector.

Furthermore, in line with President Ilham Aliyev’s directives to turn the liberated areas into green energy zones and efficiently utilize the region’s hydro-energy potential, Azerenerji has initiated the construction of six additional small hydroelectric power stations with a total capacity of 37.5 MW. These stations are scheduled to be operational by the first half of 2025.

The new stations are projected to produce over 110 million kWh of electricity annually, saving more than 24 million cubic meters of natural gas and preventing the emission of over 44,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

To date, 32 hydroelectric power stations with a combined capacity of 270 MW have been commissioned in the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions, generating 492 million kilowatt-hours of zero-emission electricity. This has led to a saving of 110 million cubic meters of natural gas and a reduction in carbon emissions by 200,000 tons.

The region’s hydroelectric power stations are expected to reach a total capacity of 500 MW, with an annual production of 1.5-1.8 billion kilowatt-hours, resulting in a saving of 350-400 million cubic meters of natural gas and a reduction of 650,000-750,000 tons in carbon dioxide emissions. This is notably higher than the annual average of 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours produced by hydroelectric power stations in other regions of Azerbaijan, making the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions 50% more productive.