NAKHCHIVAN: The Araz hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is poised for a significant overhaul as part of a strategic development plan, according to a recent announcement by the Deputy Head of the State Energy Service of Nakhchivan, Tural Murtuzaliyev. The reconstruction effort is aligned with the “State Program for the Socio-Economic Development of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2023-2027.”

According to Trend News Agency, a tender has been initiated for the design phase of the HPP’s reconstruction, suggesting that work on the plant will commence shortly. The Araz HPP, which began operations in 1970 under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev, has a generating capacity of 22 megawatts. The Araz Reservoir, integral to the plant’s operation, has a nominal capacity of 1.2 billion cubic meters, with the ability to handle up to 1.3 billion cubic meters of water under exceptional circumstances.

The plant has historically been crucial for Nakhchivan, particularly during
periods of energy scarcity, when it was the sole provider of electricity to the region. For over fifty years, the Araz HPP has remained a key component of Nakhchivan’s energy infrastructure. Next year, the State Energy Service plans to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the plant’s commissioning, marking its long-standing service in the region.