Hydro, solar projects transform Karabakh, East Zangazur into energy hubs—expert PHOTO

Ilham Shaban, head of the Center for Oil Research, has highlighted the growing energy potential of Azerbaijan’s recently liberated territories, signaling a shift toward sustainable power production in the region.

Shaban noted that the local economy extends beyond traditional sectors such as agriculture and mining, Caliber.Az reports.

“Work carried out over the past five years has also revealed significant energy potential here, including the potential for ‘green energy,’” he said.

In 2025, 38 small hydroelectric power plants in the area generated 750 million kWh of electricity, underscoring the region’s capacity for renewable energy production.

Shaban emphasized that hydroelectric output is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. The Sarsang Hydroelectric Power Plant is undergoing full reconstruction, while new projects, including the Khudafarin and Giz Galasi plants, are planned along the Araz River, further boosting the region’s energy capacity.

The district of Jabrayil is emerging as a focal point for solar power development, given its abundant solar resources. Over the next two years, three solar power plants with a combined capacity of 340 MW are slated to begin operations, attracting interest from both domestic and international energy companies.

“Overall, generating more than 2 billion kWh of electricity from the liberated territories by 2028 is not a myth, but a realistically achievable goal,” Shaban concluded, highlighting the strategic importance of these regions in Azerbaijan’s energy roadmap.

By Vafa Guliyeva