Karabakh region on the path of revival Housing, “green” energy, industry

For the fifth consecutive year, Azerbaijan has been implementing a large-scale programme to restore the territories of the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions, liberated from occupation. In particular, high-paced reconstruction efforts have been carried out in the Jabrayil and Zangilan districts. 

During his visit there on October 28, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with local residents, took part in the opening ceremonies of newly rebuilt villages, laid the foundations for new residential complexes, and commissioned a section of a highway along with two solar power plants. On the same day, the head of state also familiarised himself with the operations of several agro-industrial enterprises in the Sabirabad industrial quarter and in the Imishli district.

The key objective of the “First State Programme of the Great Return to the Territories of Azerbaijan Liberated from Occupation” is the restoration of Azerbaijani cities and villages, construction of housing and social facilities, as well as the development of transport, energy, and utility infrastructure, and the commissioning of industrial clusters, commercial, and service enterprises. The budget allocated for reconstruction in the liberated territories from 2021 to 2025 is estimated at over 23 billion manats ($13.5 billion). These substantial investments are helping to build modern infrastructure, expand housing capacity, and create new jobs in the liberated territories, facilitating the swift return of former internally displaced persons.

Another example of the effectiveness of the reconstruction work carried out over the past five years was the President’s visit, during which he met with residents of two villages in the Zangilan district.

“It is a very joyful day for the residents of the villages of Aghali and Mammadbayli today. Another 100 families are moving into the village of Aghali. The borders of Aghali are becoming even larger. Beautiful houses and buildings have been constructed for 180 families in the village of Mammadbayli,” President Ilham Aliyev said during the meeting with the new settlers. “You know that we have also launched the Great Return program in Zangilan district. Residents have already been living in the first village, Aghali, for three and a half years. In fact, very good conditions have been created and maintained there. I just went through Aghali. While getting acquainted with new buildings, I saw that all the courtyards had turned into beautiful gardens. When we handed this place over to the former IDPs, it was barren—just as there are not many trees in Mammadbayli village now. But over the years, people have been building, creating, planting, and cultivating the land themselves.”

Speaking about the “Great Return” programme, which began in the Zangilan district, the President noted that the construction of the first residential complex in the city of Zangilan is now almost complete. Other buildings, a school, and a hospital are also under construction, while the Zangilan Mosque, a congress centre, and an international airport have already been commissioned. “In other words, this place, this region will become one of the most important transport hubs. Both the Zangezur corridor and the Araz corridor will pass through here,” emphasised the President of Azerbaijan.

Construction in the administrative centre of the Zangilan district is proceeding at a rapid pace. During his visit, the President inspected the work completed in a 104-apartment residential complex. The complex, consisting of 12 buildings with a total of 104 apartments, occupies about two hectares. It includes children’s and sports playgrounds, six above-ground and underground parking lots, underground water reservoirs, a transformer, and plans are in place to install an electric vehicle charging station.

During a meeting on the same day with residents of Horovlu village in the Jabrayil district, who were handed the keys to their new apartments, the President noted that the state had created all the necessary conditions here. In this 248-hectare village, the first stage will accommodate 1,400 people, with 334 private two-, three-, four-, and five-room houses constructed. The village is equipped with water, gas, and electricity supply, solar panels, and high-speed internet. Modern facilities have also been built, including a kindergarten, school, medical centre, a market complex, catering facilities, and a sports and wellness centre.

“The village is now pleasing to the eye. Beautiful buildings, a school, a kindergarten, a medical center, and workplaces have been established,” said President Ilham Aliyev. “The evidence of the Great Return is right before your eyes. By creating such conditions, the Azerbaijani state demonstrates its policy.”

The President emphasised that today the entire Karabakh and East Zangezur regions represent a large construction zone, with more than 50,000 people already living, working, and studying there. He also noted that on the territories liberated from occupation, agro-parks are being established, land plots allocated for agriculture, and conditions created for sowing, livestock, and beekeeping. Fruit orchards and vineyards are also being planted.

Construction work is progressing very dynamically in the city of Jabrayil as well, where the President laid the foundations for the second and third residential complexes. The second complex, covering an area of 5.28 hectares, will include 23 five- and six-storey buildings with a total of 615 apartments, while the third complex, spanning five hectares, will provide 746 apartments. All necessary facilities for comfortable living, including full social infrastructure, will be created here.

In the Jabrayil district, transport infrastructure development is also ongoing. In particular, the President participated in the opening of an 11.5-kilometre section of the highway constructed from the 197th kilometre of the Hajigabul–Bahramtapa road to the state border with Armenia.

“Jobs are being created in the district. The “Araz Valley” industrial zone is already operating. Three enterprises are active, and their number will reach about 20 soon. There will be no problems with employment here,” President Ilham Aliyev noted. “The foundations of two solar power plants will also be laid today, while the third and largest is already under construction.”

On October 28, with the participation of the President, the foundations were laid for the “Shams” and “Ufug” solar power plants, each with a capacity of 50 MW. According to Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, in April of this year the government signed investment agreements with Enerso Jabrayil LLC for the Ufug project and Clean Energy Jabrayil LLC for the Shams project.

Once commissioned in 2027, both power plants will generate 206 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, resulting in an annual saving of approximately 44 million cubic metres of natural gas and a reduction of 96,000 tonnes of harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

The President noted that, overall, the combined capacity of solar and hydroelectric power plants already commissioned and under construction in the Jabrayil and Zangilan districts will reach around 400 MW—enough to meet the energy needs of a large city. The “green” energy produced here will fully supply the entire region.

Alongside the successful development of the territories liberated from occupation, Azerbaijan’s industrial potential is also growing rapidly in other regions. This was demonstrated during the President’s recent visit to several agricultural and industrial facilities in the Sabirabad industrial quarter.

One of these facilities is Humix LLC, which produces agrochemical products and annually manufactures 18,000 tonnes of organic-mineral (powdered), chemical (liquid and powdered), and granular fertilizers.

Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, who accompanied the President on the visit, reported that eight residents have begun operations in the Sabirabad industrial quarter, creating over 100 jobs, with total investments exceeding 10 million manats ($5.9 million).

Among them is Azera Tokhumchulug LLC, which annually produces 500 tonnes of clover seeds, 800 tonnes of hybrid corn seeds, 350 tonnes of hybrid sunflower seeds, 2,000 tonnes of barley seeds, and 2,000 tonnes of wheat seeds grown in the Sabirabad pilot agro-park.

The industrial quarter also hosts Firtina Su Sistemləri LLC, whose production capacity allows for the annual manufacture of 210,000 water filters and 15,000 water filtration devices, supplied not only to the domestic market but also exported to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Türkiye.

The President also visited the Tashobasi cotton-processing plant, which has an annual production capacity of 8,000 tonnes of cotton fibre and 10,000 tonnes of technical seeds.

In Imishli, President Ilham Aliyev participated in the launch ceremony of Promalt LLC, a barley processing facility. This factory, intended to supply raw materials to Carlsberg Azerbaijan, is the first modern production facility in the South Caucasus specialising in the processing of barley brewing malt.

The investment in the facility amounts to 33.2 million manats ($19.5 milllion). It is equipped with modern machinery from the Swiss company Bühler GmbH, featuring a fully automated processing system, and will produce 11,000 tonnes of barley malt per year.