BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 9. ''Azerenergy'' OJSC
and the World Bank discussed the implementation of the AZURE
project.


This was announced in a report published by the ''Azerenergy''
OJSC.


However, it is noted that the meeting took place between
delegations led by Azerenergy OJSC Chairman Baba Rzayev and World
Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus Rolande Pryce.


''During the meeting, the parties discussed the overall progress
of the AZURE project, the current status of its individual
components, upcoming work, and new opportunities for cooperation.
The parties also exchanged views in detail on the integration of
large-scale renewable energy projects into Azerbaijan’s power grid
and the prospects for further cooperation in this area,''
Azerenergy informs.







Meanwhile, the main goal of the AZURE project is to ensure the
sustainable and secure integration into the power grid of 2
gigawatts of renewable energy capacity currently under construction
in the country.


To this end, the 500/330 kV ''Navakhi'' power hub is being built
in Azerbaijan, which will serve as the main hub substation.
High-voltage power lines with voltages of 500 and 330 kilovolts are
being laid from this hub in various directions across the country.
As part of the first phase of the project, funded by Azerenergy’s
internal resources and partially by the state budget, construction
of the 330-kilovolt section of the ''Navakhi'' substation is
nearing completion, as well as the 500-kilovolt transmission line
from Navakhi to Absheron and the 330-kilovolt transmission lines to
the Bilasuvar and Banka solar power plants. Upon completion of this
phase, the Bankya and Bilasuvar solar power plants will be
connected to the unified power grid.


In the second phase of the project, financed by the World Bank,
plans call for the procurement and installation of equipment for
the 500-kilovolt section of the ''Navakhi'' substation, including
transformers, as well as the construction of a 500-kilovolt
transmission line from ''Navakhi'' to Mingachevir and 330-kilovolt
lines toward Alat, Absheron, and Gobu. This phase is expected to be
completed within three years.