Azerbaijan lays foundation stone of Malibay small hydropower plant in Lachin PHOTO / UPDATED

The first small hydroelectric power station is being built in Malibay village of Azerbaijan’s Lachin district as part of cooperation with the representatives of the private sector.

A foundation laying ceremony for the Malibay small hydroelectric power station was held as part of the project for the operation of five small hydroelectric power stations in Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar and Lachin districts, the Azerbaijani Economy Ministry told Caliber.Az.

Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Economy Anar Akhundov, Special Representative of the President in Lachin district Masim Mammadov, Executive Director of Azerbaijan Investment Company Ulvi Mansurov, Chairman of Demirören Yatırım Holding A.Ş. Yildirim Demiroren, head of Arges Enerji Team LLC Mehmet Fehmi Ozata, and other representatives from the Ministry of Economy attended the ceremony.

The project, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, aims to transform the liberated territories into alternative and "green" energy zones, with a modern power supply system enhancing the region's infrastructure.

A power supply system that meets modern requirements is being formed to improve the infrastructure. Hydroelectric power plants play an important role in generating green electricity.

The high hydropower potential in these territories facilitates effective construction and rehabilitation projects. The cooperation with private investors is important.

The project for the restoration and operation of small hydroelectric power stations in Kalbajar and Lachin testifies to the Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood.

This is the first joint hydroelectric project with the private sector in the liberated territories. The commissioning of the Malibay station, the foundation of which was laid as part of the first stage of the project, will provide about 7,000 houses with electricity.

Azerbaijan Investment Company, Türkiye’s Demirören Yatırım Holding A.S. and Arges Enerji Team LLC signed a Joint Participation Agreement in December 2023, according to which five small hydroelectric power plants will be put into operation on the Hekari and Tartar rivers.

The total cost of the project is 25 million manats ($42.5 million). In total, five stations with a total capacity of 13.8 MW are planned to be put into operation in 2025. The service life of the stations is 30 years. Some 25 new jobs will be created as a result of the implementation of the project.

It is planned to build the Malibay hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 5.1 MW at the first stage of the project on the Zabukh River in the Lachin district, the Galacha 2 hydroelectric power station - 3.4 MW at the second stage, Minkend hydroelectric power station - 1.8 MW, Galacha 1 hydroelectric power station - 1.1 MW.

The third stage involves the construction of a small hydroelectric power station “Tartar 1” with a capacity of 2.4 MW on the Tartar River in the Kalbajar district.

16:14

A ceremony was held in Lachin to mark the foundation laying of the Malybey small hydropower plant (HPP), part of a broader project involving five small HPPs in the Gulbajar and Lachin districts of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

Attendees included Deputy Minister of Economy Anar Akhundov, Special Representative of the President in Lachin district Masim Mammadov, Executive Director of Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC Ulvi Mansurov, Chairman of Demirören Yatırım Holding A.Ş. Yildirim Demiroren, head of Arges Enerji Team LLC Mehmet Fehmi Ozata, and other representatives from the Ministry of Economy.

The project, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, aims to transform the liberated territories into alternative and "green" energy zones, with a modern power supply system enhancing the region's infrastructure. The high hydropower potential in these territories facilitates effective construction and rehabilitation projects, emphasizing cooperation with private investors.

This initiative is also a testament to Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood, being the first joint HPP project with the private sector in the liberated areas. Once operational, the Malibey station will provide electricity to approximately 7,000 homes.