President Ilham Aliyev participated in the online inauguration of the 14.7 MW "Agbulag-1," 14.25 MW "Agbulag-2," and 4 MW "Sheylanli" hydropower plants located on the Hochaz River in the Lachin district on July 11.
According to the "Operative Information Center-OMM", Balababa Rzayev, Chairman of the Board of "AzerEnergy" OJSC, briefed the head of state on the energy potential of the Lachin district and the operational details of the new power plants.
It was noted that in accordance with President Ilham Aliyev's instructions to transform the Garabagh and East Zangazur economic regions into a "green energy zone," "AzerEnergy" OJSC is systematically continuing the construction of hydropower plants across the region.
The water resources of the Lachin district, which is part of the East Zangazur economic region, are primarily formed within the country. To date, 11 hydropower plants with a total capacity of 72.6 MW have been constructed on the Hakari River—the second largest river in the Lesser Caucasus after the Tartar River—and its tributaries, including the Hochaz, Shalva, and Zabukh rivers.
Currently, the 8-10 MW electricity demand of the Lachin district is fully met by green energy, with surplus power being transmitted to the national energy system. Three additional hydropower plants with a total capacity of 10.7 MW are currently under construction and are expected to be commissioned by the end of this year. Projections indicate that by 2040, the Lachin district will require 80 MW of power, and with the current and planned projects, the region will remain fully supplied by green energy for the next 15 years.
The "Agbulag-1" hydropower plant, situated at an altitude of 2,150 meters in the complex mountainous terrain of Lachin, represents one of the most challenging engineering projects executed by the country's energy sector. The facility will generate 93.2 million kWh of eco-friendly electricity annually, saving 21 million cubic meters of natural gas and preventing 37,000 tons of carbon emissions each year.
The "Agbulag-2" hydropower plant, also built on the Hochaz River, features modern automated control systems and a new 110/10 kV, 16 MVA substation to ensure reliable integration into the national grid. It will produce 87.3 million kWh of electricity annually, saving 19.6 million cubic meters of natural gas and preventing 35,000 tons of carbon emissions.
The 4 MW "Sheylanli" hydropower plant was designed with a priority on ecological safety, utilizing hydro-technical solutions that protect the river ecosystem and allow for natural fish migration. It will generate 19.4 million kWh of electricity annually, saving 4.4 million cubic meters of natural gas and preventing over 8,000 tons of carbon emissions.
These three hydropower plants, equipped with modern SCADA systems, will collectively allow for the production of more than 200 million kilowatt-hours of eco-friendly electricity annually, resulting in a total annual saving of 45 million cubic meters of natural gas and preventing approximately 80,000 tons of carbon emissions.
