President Aliyev inaugurates Tartar Electromechanical Plant, Gozlukorpu Power Plant in Aghdara PHOTO / UPDATED

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev carried out a series of official engagements on January 13, attending the opening of industrial and energy facilities and inspecting large-scale reconstruction and development works in the Tartar and Aghdara districts.

The President first attended the opening ceremony of the Tartar Electromechanical Plant following its reconstruction,  Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The head of state laid flowers at the bust of National Leader Heydar Aliyev erected in the plant’s courtyard. 

Minister of Defence Industry Vugar Mustafayev briefed President Ilham Aliyev on the newly established facilities.

The plant was founded in 1976 as the Tartar branch of the Lianozovo Electromechanical Plant and began operations in April 1977, initially producing electrotechnical products and special-purpose items, including tachometers and speedometers for motorboats.

Production processes are currently being aligned with national military-technical requirements and international quality standards. A quality control laboratory has been established for this purpose. Extensive construction and reconstruction works have also been carried out on the plant’s territory, including the commissioning of new production and auxiliary buildings, modernization of existing facilities, and the creation of special polygons for ballistic and resource testing.

President Ilham Aliyev continues to prioritize the development of Azerbaijan’s defense industry. Local enterprises are being established, cooperation with foreign partners is expanding, and production volumes are increasing through the introduction of modern technologies. In 2024, Azerbaijan produced military-purpose products worth 1.4 billion manats ($823.5 million), part of which was supplied to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, while the remainder was exported. Currently, Azerbaijan exports military products to nearly 20 countries.

As part of his visit to the Aghdara district, President Ilham Aliyev inspected reconstruction and development works in the villages of Chapar, Heyvali, and Childiran. The inspections covered ongoing infrastructure projects, residential development, and measures aimed at ensuring sustainable living conditions for residents returning to the region.

In the Heyvali village, the president was briefed on the landscaping activities and planned infrastructure projects in the village.

Heyvali is located within its own administrative-territorial district in the Aghdara region, at the foothills of the Karabakh mountain range. Prior to the occupation, the local population was primarily engaged in grain farming, tobacco cultivation, and animal husbandry. The village also housed social facilities such as a school, a community club, and a post office. Heyvali was liberated from occupation following the anti-terror operations conducted in 2023.

Out of 126 private houses in Heyvali, 45 have already been fully restored and are ready for occupancy. The restoration of an additional 50 houses is planned throughout the year. All necessary conditions have been established for the settlement of the 19 families (74 people) who have already returned to their native land.

As part of the village's reconstruction, extensive work has been undertaken to restore social infrastructure. Specifically, two existing transformers, as well as electricity and gas lines, have been rehabilitated, and new telecommunications lines have been installed. To ensure residents' access to drinking water, a 60-cubic-meter tank has been installed, and construction of the water supply network has begun. In addition, approximately 4.5 kilometers of intra-village roads have undergone major repairs, and a new recreation park has been created for residents' leisure time.

Later, President Ilham Aliyev visited the family of local resident Sarvan Abbasov and familiarized himself with the living conditions created in their new home.

The head of state also attended the opening of the Gozlukorpu Hydroelectric Power Plant, located in the village of Gozlukorpu in the Aghdara district. 

Chairman of the Board of “Azerenerji” OJSC Baba Rzayev briefed the head of state on the station, as well as on the status of hydropower plants in Garabagh and East Zangezur, and the existing and prospective hydropower potential of the Tartarchay river chain.

It was reported that in the liberated territories, 38 hydropower plants with a total capacity of 307 MW produced 750 million kilowatt-hours of green energy in 2025. This resulted in savings of 160 million cubic metres of natural gas and prevented the emission of 280,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The hydropower potential of the Tartarchay has been determined to include 30 hydropower stations (HPS). Currently, 22 HPS are operated by “Azerenerji” OJSC, construction of 5 HPS is underway, and 3 HPS are planned. It should be noted that the Tartarchay river is entirely within the territory of Azerbaijan.

In accordance with President Ilham Aliyev’s instruction to transform Garabagh and East Zangezur into a “green energy” zone, the “Gozlukorpu” Hydroelectric Power Plant, built on the Tartarchay — the largest water artery of the region — has a capacity of 14.7 MW. Despite the challenging terrain, harsh climate conditions, and complex logistics, the project was successfully completed in a short period.

A modern headwater intake structure has been constructed at an altitude of 955 metres above sea level. A 13-kilometre-long diversion pipeline has been laid through mountainous terrain to transfer water from this structure to the station. For the first time in Azerbaijan, modern energy-production equipment capable of operating at 25% productivity during low-water periods and 100% productivity during high-water periods has been installed.

An open switchgear was built to connect the station to the national energy system, and an optical cable line was laid to integrate the station into the digital control system.

On average, the station is expected to produce 43 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, saving 9.5 million cubic metres of natural gas and preventing 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Special attention was given to environmental protection within the project. Hydraulic structures were constructed to prevent river fish from entering the diversion pipeline and to ensure that harmful substances do not mix with the water. These measures allow the water to return to the downstream river without changes to its quality indicators. The use of environmentally friendly technological equipment ensures the sustainability of the river ecosystem while contributing to the formation of water resources.

The president reviewed the reconstruction works in Ashaghi Oratagh village of the Aghdara district.

The head of state was briefed on the social projects implemented in the village.

The village has a total of 308 individual houses, of which 148 were unfit for use and 160 were partially usable. Currently, 100 houses have been restored and are ready for habitation. Within the year, an additional 60 houses are planned for major repair and restoration. So far, 31 families, totaling 119 people, have returned to the village.

Significant work has also been carried out on social infrastructure. Two transformers and a gas line have been restored, while new electricity, gas, and communication lines have been installed. A water pump has been commissioned, water reservoirs with a total capacity of 560 cubic meters have been cleaned, and a subartesian well has been repaired. Nearly 7 kilometers of internal village roads have been restored. Additionally, a park and a football pitch have been created for residents’ recreation.

The head of state also visited the family of Anar Rustamov, who recently returned to the village, and familiarized himself with the conditions in their newly restored house.

Later in the day, President Aliyev reviewed the reconstruction and development work carried out in the village of Childiran in the Aghdara district.

The Head of State was briefed on the projects currently being implemented in the village.

There are 177 private houses in the village, of which 69 were deemed unusable and 108 were partially usable. To date, 28 houses have been made ready for occupancy, and the restoration of an additional 30 houses is planned for this year. Currently, an initial group of 13 families (48 people) has returned to the village.

In Childiran, two existing transformers and power and gas lines have been restored, while entirely new electricity, gas, and communication lines have been installed. Additionally, a water pump has been commissioned, water reservoirs with a total capacity of 190 cubic meters have been cleaned, and a sub-artesian well has been repaired. Furthermore, 8.4 kilometers of internal village roads have been restored, and a new park has been established.

Following the inspection, President Ilham Aliyev visited the home of Verdi Abdullayev, who recently resettled in the village with his family.

President Aliyev inspected the Damirli Ore Processing Complex, located in the village of Janyataq in the Aghdara district.

Minister of Economy Mikayıl Jabbarov and President and Chief Executive Officer of Azerbaijan International Mining Company Limited Reza Vaziri briefed the head of state on the complex.

The complex includes a copper flotation plant, a wet tailings storage facility, an electrical substation, and other infrastructure. Covering a total area of 929 hectares designated for mining and production, the complex has been reconstructed using Turkish and German technologies. Private investments amounting to 15.3 million manats were directed to the reconstruction and restoration works.

The Damirli complex is the first mining industry project launched in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories. The copper flotation plant will process ore extracted from the “Damirli” deposit to produce the final product — copper concentrate. The plant’s annual processing capacity is 5.6 million tons of ore.

The Damirli copper deposit, which had been under Armenia’s occupation since 1993, was illegally exploited for approximately 10 years starting from May 13, 2013. During that period, out of the estimated 311,000 tons of extractable copper reserves, 218,000 tons — or 70 percent — were illegally extracted.

By Khagan Isayev