President Aliyev inaugurates three hydroelectric power stations in Lachin PHOTO

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended, via video link, the inauguration of three hydroelectric power stations in Lachin district on July 11, adding 32.95 megawatts of renewable energy capacity as Azerbaijan continues its efforts to develop the Garabagh and East Zangezur economic regions as a green energy zone.

The newly inaugurated facilities include the 14.7-megawatt Aghbulag-1, the 14.25-megawatt Aghbulag-2, and the 4-megawatt Sheylanli hydroelectric power stations, all located on the Hochaz River, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

During the ceremony, Balababa Rzayev, Chairman of the Board of AzerEnerji OJSC, briefed the president on the energy potential of Lachin district and the operation of the new power stations.

According to AzerEnerji, Lachin's electricity demand currently stands at between 8 and 10 megawatts and is fully supplied through renewable energy, with surplus electricity fed into Azerbaijan's national power grid.

The company said 11 hydroelectric power stations with a combined installed capacity of 72.6 megawatts are currently operating on the Hakari River and its tributaries—the Hochaz, Shalva and Zabukh rivers. Construction of three additional hydroelectric power stations with a combined capacity of 10.7 megawatts is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Electricity demand in Lachin is projected to reach 80 megawatts by 2040, with existing and planned hydropower projects expected to continue meeting the district's needs through green energy.

The Aghbulag-1 hydroelectric power station, located at an altitude of 2,150 metres, was built in mountainous terrain without road infrastructure. It is expected to generate 93.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, saving 21 million cubic metres of natural gas and preventing 37,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

The Aghbulag-2 station includes a newly built 110/10 kV, 16 MVA substation and a 5.7-kilometre derivation pipeline. It is expected to produce 87.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, saving 19.6 million cubic metres of natural gas and preventing 35,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

The Sheylanli hydroelectric power station was designed with measures aimed at protecting the river ecosystem, including hydrotechnical solutions intended to preserve fish migration and water quality. The station is expected to generate 19.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, saving 4.4 million cubic metres of natural gas and preventing more than 8,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

According to AzerEnerji, the three stations are equipped with SCADA systems and will be integrated into Azerbaijan's unified energy system. Together, they are expected to generate more than 200 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, save 45 million cubic metres of natural gas each year and prevent approximately 80,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.