Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Goygol, Kalbajar and Lachin districts, Azernews reports per Azertac.
The head of state first got acquainted with the construction of two tunnels on the 13th kilometer of the Toghanali-Kalbajar highway in Goygol district.
The Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency, Saleh Mammadov, informed the President of the construction work.
The 2-4-lane highway connecting Goygol and Kalbajar districts is being built in accordance with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd technical degrees. In particular, taking into account the fact that the area the road is crossing is made up of mountains and rocks, the main part of it will consist of two lanes, and additional lane will be constructed on the slopes. This road will have four lanes in tunnel and bridge sections.
At present, the construction of a roadbed along the road, as well as water pipes where necessary, is underway. The relocation of existing canals in two places, as well as the construction of water mains in some areas has been completed, and the construction of a new water canal is currently underway.
It was noted that the Murov range starts from the 13.5th kilometer of the project. The height increases from 1,700 meters to 3,250 meters at the top of Mount Murov. In this part, the construction of the Murov tunnel, which will be one of the longest automobile tunnels in the world, is underway. Drilling of the tunnel has already reached a depth of 2.1 kilometers.
The tunnel is provided with a temporary ventilation system. The construction of two pedestrian and reserve motor crossings has been completed.
At present, the transportation of rock fragments generated as a result of blasting in the tunnel, the removal of produced water and lining of the inner part of the tunnel are underway.
The President was also informed that in addition to the Murov tunnel, three more tunnels were to be built within the Toghanali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway construction project. Construction work has begun on the first tunnel, which is 542 meters long and 12 meters wide, and on the second tunnel, which is 607 meters long. Drilling has already been completed for the first layer of the first tunnel, enabling movement inside the tunnel. Drilling on the top layer in the second tunnel is nearing completion.
The Toghanali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway, the construction of which is expected to be completed before 2025, passes through the territory of Kalbajar district, originating from Toghanali village of Goygol district. Therefore, the road, along with many settlements in the district, will provide easy access to the city of Kalbajar and the famous Istisu area.
“Kalbajar-1” Small Hydroelectric Power Station
Ilham Aliyev also attended the opening of the newly built 4.4 MW “Kalbajar-1” Small Hydroelectric Power Station in Kalbajar district.
The President of AzerEnergy Open Joint-Stock Company, Baba Rzayev, informed the President of the “Kalbajar-1” Small Hydroelectric Power Plant.
The station built on the Lev River was the first energy production facility built and commissioned in Kalbajar after the liberation from occupation.
In accordance with the “green energy zone” concept, a machine room was built at “Kalbajar-1” HPP, which will produce environmentally friendly energy. New units, generators, control panels and transformers have been installed. A 110/6 kilovolt substation has also been built.
“Kalbajar-1” HPP is connected to the overall energy system of Azerbaijan. The new station is digitally operated, has an intelligent management system enabling operational monitoring and analysis, can be controlled and managed from Kalbajar, as well as from the Main Control Center in Baku. The remote-controlled HPP operates almost without staff. The control system of the stations is fully automated and digitized with special software, which leads to a further reduction in the cost of electricity generated.
In accordance with the President's instructions to turn the liberated territories into a “green energy zone”, the “Gulabird”, “Sugovushan-1”, ‘Sugovushan-2” and “Kalbajar-1” small hydro power plants with a total capacity of 20 megawatts have been commissioned after the Victory in the Patriotic war. So far, the small power stations have generated 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity.
Ilham Aliyev attended a solemn ceremony to hand over the battle flag to the commando military unit as part of his visit to Kalbajar district.
Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov reported to Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.
The defense minister informed the Commander-in-Chief about the master plan of the newly built military town.
President, Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev saluted the personnel and congratulated the servicemen on 26 June – the Armed Forces Day.
The memory of national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, was honored with observing a minute of silence.
The national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed.
The head of state addressed the event.
The president also viewed the construction of the Kalbajar-Lachin highway.
Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed the head of state of the work done.
The two- and four-lane highway connecting Kalbajar and Lachin districts was being built in accordance with the 1st and 2nd technical categories.
At present, excavation and backfilling work was being carried out in certain parts of the road and a new roadbed was being established. In addition, the construction of rectangular and circular water pipes, as well as water canals, drainage and stone walls was underway.
It was noted that drilling was underway on two of the tunnels to be built along the road and work had begun on the entrance and exit sections of one of them.
Aliyev viewed the work done at 110 kV “Gorchu” power substation in Lachin district.
President of AzerEnergy Open Joint Stock Company Baba Rzayev informed the head of state of the work done at the substation.
A 110/35/10 kV digital substation is also under construction in Gorchu village, Lachin district at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level.
An airport is under construction near the substation, and Gorchu village being the center, a residential area connecting 7 villages is planned to be built here.
The new substation will supply electricity to Lachin airport, military units in the district, and all infrastructure to be built in the region in the coming years.
Ilham Aliyev viewed the “Hakarichay” reservoir project in Lachin district.
The Chairman of Azerbaijan Melioration and Water Management Open Joint Stock Company, Zaur Mikayilov, informed the President of the project.
It was noted that the liberated areas were very rich in terms of natural resources, biodiversity, as well as forest areas and water resources. These areas account for about 20 percent of the water resources in Azerbaijan. The length of the Hakari River, which originates in Lachin district, is 113 kilometers, and the average annual water consumption is about 10.7 cubic meters per second. By building a reservoir with a capacity of about 90 million cubic meters on the Hakarichay river, it is possible to deliver clean and genetically useful water to Sabirabad by a 254-kilometer highway. Relevant research has already been conducted in this area. The feasibility study of the project is currently underway.
It was noted that the Hakarichay reservoir was intended for the collection of drinking water. The planned construction of pumping stations on the highway is expected to supply water to seven districts located in a relatively elevated area. As a result of the project, it will be possible to provide drinking water to about three million people.
Ilham Aliyev familiarized himself with the construction work underway at Lachin International Airport.
The head of state was informed of the work carried out at the airport.
The construction of Lachin International Airport, the foundation of which was laid in 2021, is planned to be completed in 2024. The runway of the airport will be 3,000 meters long and 60 meters wide.
Occupation and Victory Museums Complex
On 26 June, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev viewed the master plan of Kalbajar and laid the foundation stone for the Occupation and Victory Museums Complex.
The First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, Namig Hummatov, informed the President of the master plan of Kalbajar.
During the development of the master plan of Kalbajar, various architectural traditions were studied in accordance with the geographical location and structure of the district to form a unique image. Suggestions were made on possible examples. The conceptual basis of the master plan is to develop health and mountain tourism opportunities and create a green urban environment in harmony with nature. Multi-apartment buildings will be built in the central part of the city and individual houses with a yard will be constructed in the suburbs. Over the next 20 years, the city of Kalbajar is to cover an area of 237 hectares and have a population of 17,000 people.
On the Occupation and Victory Museums Complex to be built in Kalbajar, it was noted that both museums would be built in a park in the city center.
The head of state laid the foundation stone for the Occupation and Victory Museums Complex.
After Aghdam, Jabrayil, Fuzuli and Zangilan districts, museums of Victory and Occupation will be established in Kalbajar district too.
President Ilham Aliyev met with representatives of ACN, a company designing the Kalbajar Victory and Occupation Museums.
Laura Conti, the CEO of the company, said: It is an honor to see you.
President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you for coming.
Laura Conti: Thank you for inviting us. We are pleased and honored to be here. Thank you. It is particularly amazing to be in this magnificent environment, to be surrounded by this beautiful nature. This is one of the most beautiful places we have been to.
President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, all these areas are like that. All these areas are green.
Laura Conti: The nature is amazing. Nature is the source of inspiration for our project.
The head of state watched a video on the project of the Museums of Occupation and Victory.
President Ilham Aliyev was informed about the Occupation and Victory Museums Complex to be built in Kalbajar. It was noted that both museums would be built in a park in the city center. It will be a great project in a beautiful environment because this area has an amazing beauty due to the landscape. A part of the complex will be dedicated to the history of the occupation and the rest to Victory. This project will also show respect for nature.
ACN representative: Armenians occupied this place, but did not live here.
President Ilham Aliyev: They did not live and only destroyed everything.
Company representative: They did destroy everything.
President Ilham Aliyev: There was no reason to do that. We have done nothing wrong to them. We have been subjected to ethnic cleansing. They came to our land, destroyed everything and did not leave. What did they do when they were given time to leave Kalbajar? They started setting houses on fire, cutting down trees and destroying 32 hydroelectric power stations. Can you imagine?
Company representative: I have seen the destruction of hydropower plants.
Laura Conti: Everything is burnt out.
Then the head of state laid the foundation of the Occupation and Victory Museums Complex.
A foundation stone for Kalbajar Digital Management Center was laid.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the ceremony.
The head of state was informed that large-scale work to supply electricity to facilities of special state importance and military units in Kalbajar district is currently underway.
It was noted that despite difficult conditions and the fact that Kalbajar is located in a high mountainous area, the work by "Azerishig" Open Joint-Stock Company is underway.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the “Istisu” mineral water plant was held in Kalbajar on 26 June.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the ceremony.
The Head of the President’s Administrative Services Department, Ramin Guluzade, informed the President of the work to be done.
The plan was to build lines for the production of both glass and plastic bottles at the plant. The plant will produce 327,000 bottles of mineral water per day and 95 million bottles per year. As for the water source, a new well was drilled at a depth of 200 meters. The temperature at the outlet is 60-65 degrees.
President Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation for the “Istisu” mineral water plant in Kalbajar.
Water of the “Istisu” spring used to be distinguished by its chemical composition and physical properties. Laboratory tests have shown that a liter of water with a mineral content of 6.7 grams is rich in lithium, bromine, iodine, arsenic, phosphorus, zinc, copper, nickel, magnesium, iron and other chemicals. Water from these springs was used in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract, liver, gallbladder and other diseases.
According to statistics, 33 percent of the total mineral water reserves in Azerbaijan are located in Kalbajar and Lachin districts. The daily water reserve in these districts is ,7393 cubic meters, of which Lachin accounts for 42 and Kalbajar for 5 percent.
“Chirag-1” Small Hydroelectric Power Station
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev viewed the progress of construction of the “Chirag-1” Small Hydroelectric Power Station in Kalbajar district.
The head of state was informed about the work done at the station.
It was noted that five small hydropower plants with a total capacity of 27 megawatts were being built in Kalbajar district in accordance with the “green energy” strategy.
A total of nine hydropower units will operate at small hydropower plants. 110 and 35 kV lines are being extended to integrate the stations into the country’s power system. Most of these five stations will be digitally integrated into the central SCADA Dispatch Management System. The new stations, which can enable connection, intelligent regulation, operational monitoring and analysis, will be managed from Baku, as well as Kalbajar.
The new power plants in Kalbajar will produce a total of about 100 million kilowatt-hours of environmentally friendly energy per year. This means saving 50 million cubic meters of natural gas.
Research conducted by AzerEnergy specialists shows that, unlike the spontaneous calculations of the Armenians on the basis of old-generation technologies through the destruction of nature, Kalbajar and Lachin, the country's largest water resources, are based on modern technologies adapted to artificial intelligence in accordance with the fourth generation industrial revolution. It is possible to produce more environmentally friendly hydro green power than rivers.
It was noted that although the total capacity of other small hydropower plants to be reconstructed in Kalbajar and Lachin in the coming years is 82.2 MW, according to new reports, it will be possible to double this volume.
On 26 June, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Istisu sanatorium in Kalbajar district.
Head of the President’s Administrative Services Department Ramin Guluzade informed the President of the work to be done at the sanatorium.
The “Istisu” Recreation and Treatment Complex, to be built on an area of 34 hectares, would be able to receive 300 people a day. Along with the health center, there are plans to build 10 cottages in the complex.
A sanatorium of the same name had been established around the “Istisu” spring, a famous mineral spring in the Istisu village of Kalbajar, back in 1928. The sanatorium, which was made unusable during the years of occupation, will be completely restored to its former glory.
President Ilham Aliyev has laid the foundation of the “Istisu” sanatorium.
The head of state then addressed the ceremony.
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