Azerbaijan commissions Zabukhchay reservoir in Lachin, plans major irrigation projects in Karabakh

The Zabukhchay reservoir and its associated main pipeline have been commissioned in Azerbaijan’s Lachin region, as announced by Ilham Guliyev, a representative of the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency.

Guliyev said the new reservoir is set to provide irrigation water for agricultural parks and farmlands across Azerbaijan’s Zangilan and Gubadli districts, covering a total sowing area of 12,100 hectares, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

This year, the total area of irrigated farmland in agricultural parks within the two districts reached 2,900 hectares, benefiting directly from the new infrastructure, the Agency’s representative stated.

“The Zabukhchay reservoir, with a total capacity of 27 million cubic meters, and a 51.6-kilometre high-pressure main pipeline will support the agricultural development of the region,” Guliyev noted.

He also detailed the reservoir’s technical specifications: the dam is 61 meters high, 502 meters wide at its base, and 10 meters wide at the crest.

“The construction project included a 1.2-kilometre diversion pipeline connected to the Gulabird hydroelectric power station (HPP), an emergency spillway, service buildings, and surrounding infrastructure,” Guliyev said.

According to him, water from the Zabukhchay reservoir is delivered to the irrigated fields on both the right and left banks of the Hakari River through the main pipeline, a critical component of the project.

“The pipeline has an initial throughput capacity of 6.2 cubic metres per second and is designed to serve high-pressure sprinkler and drip irrigation systems,” Guliyev explained.

He emphasised that the Zabukhchay reservoir project plays a vital role in unlocking the agricultural potential of the region, contributing to increased productivity and improving the livelihoods of the local population.

Speaking about future similar projects, Guliyev said Azerbaijan is planning to construct several new reservoirs in its liberated territories to enhance the region’s water supply.

According to Guliyev, feasibility studies and design estimates have already been prepared for reservoirs on the Hakarichay and Bargushadchay rivers.

“The preliminary capacity of the Hakarichay reservoir will be around 91 million cubic meters, and the Bargushadchay reservoir about 67 million cubic meters. These projects will make a significant contribution to providing both irrigation and drinking water to Lachin, Gubadli, Zangilan, and other districts,” he explained.

Guliyev added that preparations are nearing completion for the feasibility study of the Sarsang reservoir, which has a capacity of 565 million cubic meters. This reservoir will support irrigation for a total of 96,000 hectares in the Aghdara, Tartar, Aghdam, Barda, Goranboy, and Yevlakh districts.

The agency representative also noted that documentation for the “Giz Galasi” reservoir project and its associated 52-kilometre main canal, as well as the Tartarchay right-bank irrigation canal, has been completed. Implementation of these projects is expected to begin soon.

Once completed, these initiatives will significantly improve water supply to tens of thousands of hectares of arable land across the region.

By Khagan Isayev