bp: Jabrayil solar energy to boost reconstruction in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh

bp’s Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye Gary Jones has announced that the electricity which is generated by the Shafag solar power plant in Jabrayil will make a significant contribution to the development of Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.

Jones made these remarks during the 30th Anniversary Baku Energy Forum, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He also said that they had just made the final investment decision on their first solar project in the region — the 240 MW Shafag solar power plant in Jabrayil. He added that a unique aspect of the project was a virtual power purchase agreement signed with Azerenergy.

The electricity generated would support the reconstruction and development of the liberated territories, while they would receive an equivalent amount of power to decarbonize their Sangachal terminal. Jones explained that replacing fuel usage at the Sangachal terminal will free up natural gas for export via the Southern Gas Corridor to energy-deficient nations.

He added this move could slash the terminal’s carbon emissions by around 50 per cent. bp’s regional president emphasised that this kind of integrated approach, where one initiative addresses multiple goals, is exactly what they aim for, and added that they plan to continue implementing similar projects. 

As part of its new “reboot” strategy, bp also plans to increase oil and gas investments to $10 billion annually through 2027, with a production target of 2.3–2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030. Jones noted that drilling at the Azeri–Chirag–Gunashli block has surged, with all eight rigs operating at full capacity and drilling volumes up nearly 300 per cent in recent years.

He also cited advancements in SimOps (Simultaneous Operations), reduced flaring, methane monitoring, and carbon footprint reduction as part of bp’s broader sustainability agenda. The $200 million Shafag solar project will be built and managed by Lightsource bp, bp’s solar energy subsidiary. Construction is slated to begin later this year and conclude by mid-2027.

By Naila Huseynova