BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of
the 14.7-megawatt “Aghbulag-1,” 14.25-megawatt “Aghbulag-2,” and
4-megawatt “Sheylanli” hydroelectric power stations located on the
Hochaz River in Lachin via video link on July 11.
This was reported by the press office of the President of
Azerbaijan.
Balababa Rzayev, Chairman of the Board of AzerEnerji OJSC,
briefed the head of state on the energy potential of the Lachin
district and the operation of the power stations.
In line with the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev to
transform the Garabagh and East Zangezur economic regions into a
green energy zone, AzerEnerji OJSC continues work on the
construction of hydroelectric power stations across the region.
The water resources of Lachin, part of the East Zangezur
economic region, are largely formed within Azerbaijan’s territory.
The Hakari River—the second-largest river in the Lesser Caucasus
after the Tartar River—and its tributaries, the Hochaz, Shalva, and
Zabukh rivers, are home to 11 hydroelectric power stations with a
combined installed capacity of 72.6 MW.
Lachin district’s current electricity demand of 8–10 MW is fully
met through green energy, while the surplus electricity is supplied
to the national power grid.
Construction of three additional hydroelectric power stations
with a total capacity of 10.7 MW is currently underway, and they
are expected to be commissioned by the end of this year.
The district’s electricity demand is projected to reach 80 MW by
2040. Taking into account both existing and planned hydroelectric
power station projects, Lachin will continue to be fully supplied
with green energy.
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The 14.7 MW “Aghbulag-1” Hydroelectric Power Station, located in
the rugged mountainous terrain of Lachin district at an altitude of
2,150 meters above sea level, is one of the most challenging
engineering projects implemented by Azerbaijani energy specialists.
Built in an area without road infrastructure, the station
demonstrates the professionalism and technical capabilities of
local specialists. As part of the project, a modern main water
intake structure was constructed, and a 4.8-kilometer-long
derivation pipeline with a diameter of 1,200 millimeters was laid
to deliver water to the station. All necessary infrastructure has
been created to ensure its uninterrupted operation.
The “Aghbulag-1” station will generate 93.2 million kWh of
environmentally friendly electricity annually. This will save 21
million cubic meters of natural gas each year, prevent the emission
of 37,000 tons of carbon, and provide enough green electricity to
meet the needs of approximately 37,000 people.
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The 14.25 MW “Aghbulag-2” Hydroelectric Power Station, built on
the Hochaz River, is important not only for electricity generation
but also for strengthening the region’s energy infrastructure. All
production processes at the station are managed through modern
automated control systems. As part of the project, a new 110/10 kV,
16 MVA substation has been built to ensure the station’s reliable
integration into the national energy system.
A 5.7-kilometer-long derivation pipeline has been laid to supply
water to the station.
The “Aghbulag-2” HPP will generate 87.3 million kWh of
electricity annually. As a result, 19.6 million cubic meters of
natural gas will be saved each year, the emission of 35,000 tons of
carbon will be prevented, and enough green electricity will be
produced to meet the needs of approximately 35,000 people.
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Environmental protection was one of the key priorities in the
design of the 4 MW “Sheylanli” Hydroelectric Power Station in
Lachin district. Hydrotechnical solutions that do not obstruct the
natural migration of fish have been applied to protect the river
ecosystem, while the hydroelectric units used have no negative
impact on the natural flow or quality of the water.
As part of the project, a main water intake structure has been
built at an altitude of 1,460 meters, and a 4.8-kilometer-long
derivation pipeline has been constructed across the challenging
mountainous terrain.
The “Sheylanli” HPP will generate 19.4 million kWh of
electricity annually. This will save 4.4 million cubic meters of
natural gas each year, prevent the emission of more than 8,000 tons
of carbon, and provide enough green electricity to meet the needs
of approximately 8,000 people. In addition to strengthening the
region’s energy security, the station will also contribute to
preserving the ecological balance and promoting economic
development.
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Built using modern technologies and international expertise and
equipped with SCADA systems, these three hydroelectric power
stations will be integrated into Azerbaijan’s unified energy
system, enabling the generation of more than 200 million kWh of
environmentally friendly electricity annually. As a result, 45
million cubic meters of natural gas will be saved each year, while
approximately 80,000 tons of carbon emissions will be
prevented.
