On June 24, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the monument to the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in the territory of the “Azerbaijan” Thermal Power Plant in Mingachevir.

Then, the head of state met with the guests who participated in the opening ceremony of the “8 November” Power Plant and talked with them. During the conversation, the importance of this plant project was emphasized. The importance of the participation of Italian and Chinese companies in this project was touched upon. The completion of the work in a short period of time was noted with satisfaction.

Then, the opening ceremony of the “8 November” Power Plant was held.

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a speech at the event.

Speech by President Ilham Aliyev

Dear friends, distinguished guests, dear residents of Mingachevir.

Today is a significant day in the energy sector of our country. The opening of the “8 November” Power Plant is a very wonderful event. In general, the creation of this station, which will greatly strengthen the energy potential of our country, and the completion of all work in a short period of time, demonstrates the strength, potential, experience, and professionalism of our energy workers. Today, the “8 November” Power Plant is the largest power plant in our country. With a capacity of 1880 megawatts, this station will naturally further strengthen our energy potential, increase the efficiency of the energy system, and thus further strengthen the status of Mingachevir as the energy center not only of Azerbaijan, but of the South Caucasus as a whole. Currently, more than 40 percent of our electricity is produced in Mingachevir, and of course, all these works once again show that Azerbaijan is on the right track.

Mingachevir played the central role of the Azerbaijani energy sector in the 1970s. On the initiative and under the direct leadership of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, the foundation of the “Azerbaijan” Thermal Power Plant was laid in Mingachevir in 1974, and with the participation of the Great Leader, the first unit of the station was commissioned in 1981. After that, other blocks were put into operation, and this station became one of the important energy centers of the Caucasus, already during the Soviet era. Naturally, in the first years of independence, we had an energy shortage. Representatives of the middle and older generations remember well those years when even television broadcasts were stopped at 12 o'clock in the evening. Because our energy system could not produce the necessary amount of electricity. There were difficulties both in terms of fuel and our energy system was completely outdated. Only at the expense of the Mingachevir station, which was created at the initiative of the Great Leader, electricity was supplied to people and enterprises, albeit with some interruptions. That is, the history of Mingachevir is rich as an energy center, and the strong human potential formed here, of course, allows us to achieve the successes achieved today.

Over the past 20 years, we have built the energy system of Azerbaijan almost from scratch. New power plants have been built in various parts of our country, and at the same time, reconstruction work has been carried out in Mingachevir. As you remember, as a result of the accident that occurred here, a large part of our country was left almost without electricity. After that, practical measures began to be taken, and we were able to achieve great success here in a short period of time.

In 2018, the foundation for the reconstruction of the “Azerbaijan” Thermal Power Plant was laid, and on June 25, 2020 - exactly five years ago - the plant was given a new life here. Currently, the generation capacity of the “Azerbaijan” Power Plant is 1,800 megawatts, the capacity of the “8 Noyabr” Plant is 1,880 megawatts, and the capacity of the Hydroelectric Power Plant is more than 400 megawatts. Thus, more than 40 percent of Azerbaijan’s electricity is produced in Mingachevir, and as I noted, it is the main energy center not only of Azerbaijan, but also of the South Caucasus.

The implementation of this project in a short period of time - energy specialists know this well - can be considered a record result. Because the construction period of a power plant with a capacity of about 2 thousand megawatts lasts several years - maybe three years, four years, five years, maybe even more. For example, the construction of the “Azerbaijan” Thermal Power Plant in Mingachevir began in 1974 during the Soviet era, and the first unit was put into operation in 1981. That is, after seven years, 300 megawatts of energy were obtained. And we have obtained about 2 thousand megawatts of energy in two years, and of course, there are many reasons for this. Of course, this was facilitated by our existing energy base, our experience, the professionalism, knowledge, and experience of Azerbaijani energy workers, and, of course, the contribution of our international partners.

I would especially like to greet the guests from Italy and China who are present here today. Italian and Chinese companies have a great share in the creation of this plant. Together with Azerbaijani energy workers, we will be able to complete this wonderful work in a short time.

I should note that both Italy and China are strategic partners of Azerbaijan. Two declarations on strategic partnership have been signed with Italy and two with China, and as a result of my numerous visits to these countries, very good results have been achieved in a number of directions. Italy is Azerbaijan's number one trade partner. China is also in the forefront among our trade partners. We started long-term and strategic cooperation with Italy, especially in the energy sector, in the crude oil and natural gas sectors, several years ago. With China, we have recently started to jointly implement more renewable energy projects. The necessary agreements were reached during my state visit to China in April. I should also note that the supply of new solar power plants being built in Azerbaijan today is largely provided by Chinese companies. In other words, these two countries are both strategic partners for us and important trade partners. As I have noted, political relations are at a very high level and we see a very good example of international cooperation here.

The commissioning of the "8 November" Plant will achieve many goals. As I mentioned, the efficiency of our energy system will be increased, our potential, generation capacity will increase, and at the same time, conventional fuel consumption will decrease sharply, and thus, this will create an opportunity for us to save on natural gas. Because everyone knows very well that there is a great demand for Azerbaijani gas in world markets today, and the more we save on natural gas domestically, the more our export opportunities will increase. Thus, the low consumption of conventional fuel here will bring us additional profit. Naturally, we see and will see the savings of natural gas in renewable projects at the same time. Azerbaijan is among the leading countries in this direction. The renewable energy projects that have been signed, are being implemented, and will be implemented will provide us with 6,500 megawatts of green energy by 2030, and if our total generation capacity today is 9,000 megawatts, everyone can understand what this means. At the same time, opportunities will be created for us to save on natural gas, and in this case, our natural gas exports will increase even more. That is, several goals are achieved here, and of course, our well-thought-out policy is at the heart of all this work. Because we work on the basis of well-thought-out policies and programs in every direction.

Energy is a matter of national security for every country. Today, everyone can see with their own eyes how great the consequences of the threat to energy lines in the world, especially in Europe and other regions, are. Today, Azerbaijan is among the countries that ensure Europe's energy security, and it is no coincidence that the European Union quite rightly calls Azerbaijan a reliable partner and a pan-European gas supplier. Because today, Azerbaijani gas is exported to 12 countries through gas pipelines. 10 of them are European countries, and it is precisely according to this indicator, according to the geographical scope of our gas supply, that Azerbaijan is today in the leading positions in the world. Of course, many countries use Azerbaijani gas and ensure their energy security. We export both natural gas and crude oil, oil and petrochemical products, and a certain amount of electricity. However, after the projects I mentioned are put into operation, we will also export green energy through various power cables. Thus, the economic power and geopolitical importance of our country will increase even more, - although today it is at a fairly high level - and Azerbaijan will further strengthen its role as a place of stability, development, and progress in this region.

Everyone is following the processes taking place in the world today. It can be said that conflicts do not subside around us, on the contrary, new conflict zones are opening up. Clashes and wars are taking place that lead to great disasters and human tragedies. We also know very well what war is. Our lands have been under occupation for many years, and during the Second Garabagh War, Armenia not only kept our cities, villages and residential facilities under deliberate fire, but also did not forget to send its missiles here - to Mingachevir - if it is possible to say so. The purpose of this was to paralyze our energy infrastructure. Even before the Second Garabagh War, Armenia, which used several methods to threaten us, including making threats such as bombing Mingachevir, destroying the dam here and disabling the Mingachevir Power Plant. Both the shells and long-range missiles that fell here, in this area, are clear evidence of this. This was aggression directed at the civilian population and civilian infrastructure, and is a war crime. Armenia's war crimes are not limited to this. Armenia is a war criminal state that committed the Khojaly genocide, destroyed our settlements during the occupation, and also shelled Ganja, Mingachevir, Barda, Tartar, Agdam and many settlements located quite far from the conflict zone during the Second Garabagh War.

In other words, by saying this, I want to emphasize once again how great the importance of this region, this infrastructure facility, is for our country. Now we live in peace. For five years, peace has been fully ensured in Azerbaijan, and of course, the sooner peace is ensured beyond our borders, the better it will be for those countries and, naturally, for us. However, the reality is that today our country is known worldwide as a place of stability, development, and progress, and we have earned this name with our own labor, hard work, and thoughtful policy. Today, the choice of the name of this station did not take much time. Among the proposed options, I chose “November 8”. Because this is the date of our glorious Victory. Victory is worthy of our people and our state. I am sure that this station will have a long life and successful activities.

Once again, I congratulate each of you, each of us, on this wonderful event. Thank you.

***

Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy of the Republic of Italy, said:

- I am very pleased to be here today and to participate in the inauguration of such an important electricity generating facility together with Mr. President Ilham Aliyev.

We are at an event in the city of Mingachevir. I remember well that two years ago, with my personal participation, we signed an agreement with the Ansaldo Energia company, including the head of that company, Fabbri, and it did not take long for the project to be implemented. This became the pinnacle of cooperation between our countries and enterprises.

This facility, which has an energy capacity of 2,000 megawatts, will reduce emissions into the air by 50 percent compared to the past. This also means protecting the environment. This is a very important step, because it further strengthens our cooperation in the energy sector, and of course, all this is aimed at the energy development of Azerbaijan.

Of course, this development between Italy and Azerbaijan in the energy sector is obvious. Mr. President Aliyev has just noted that Azerbaijani natural gas is already being supplied to 10 European countries. The TAP pipeline is a strategically important pipeline and the gas enters Europe through the territory of Italy. I believe that this is an important part of our strategic partnership in the energy sector in general. Today, this facility is already being put into operation and is a manifestation of our greater efforts in the energy sector. This is our contribution to our country. A strategic step is being taken to strengthen energy security, and of course, thanks to this, other industrial and production sectors will also develop. This cooperation is taking place within the framework of the strategic partnership initiated between our leaders - President Aliyev and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

We think that such cooperation should be in other areas as well. Among them are sectors such as metallurgy, green technology, raw materials. They are very important in terms of energy transition in both countries. As in our country and in Europe as a whole, we are very committed to this and we think that we are also cooperating in the fields of culture and science. We see this in the example of the Italian-Azerbaijani University in Baku. Of course, in the future, new engineers will be formed at that university and will contribute to the development of Azerbaijan. I believe that this creates an opportunity for cooperation between our countries not only in the fields of education and culture, but also in other areas, including the economic one.

I thank President Aliyev for his attention to Italy, express my great satisfaction with today's opening, and convey the greetings of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. We believe that we will continue our cooperation for the benefit of both countries.

I express my gratitude to President Aliyev for the cooperation that Azerbaijan has established with us, for the work carried out by our embassy, ​​and I sincerely congratulate all of you. We also want the conflict in your neighboring country, Iran, to subside and de-escalate. Because this is very important. Because we believe that the more conflicts decrease, the more diplomacy and dialogue there are, the more opportunities there will be for cooperation. All these are concepts that every country needs. We believe that Azerbaijan can be an example for its neighbors.

At the end of my speech, I congratulate you once again.

***

Fabrizio Fabbri, CEO of Ansaldo Energia, Italy, said:

- Your Excellency President Ilham Aliyev.

Mr. Minister Adolfo Urso.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a great honor for me to be here today to celebrate the opening of such a landmark power plant in Mingachevir. This project is a symbol of Azerbaijan’s unwavering commitment to energy security, sustainable development and industrial progress.

For “Ansaldo Energia”, today is an important milestone in our long-term and reliable cooperation with Azerbaijan. Our cooperation began with the provision of equipment to four substations in the liberated territories and has been developing ever since.

The new “8 November” Power Plant has today become the largest and most strategic facility of its kind in the country. This plant is a vivid example of the dynamic and far-sighted approach of the Republic of Azerbaijan to modernize its energy infrastructure and introduce cleaner, more reliable and more efficient technologies. The plant is equipped with four modern gas turbines and generators supplied by Ansaldo Energia. This equipment will significantly reduce carbon emissions and save on natural gas consumption. This is a significant contribution to environmental protection and energy efficiency.

The AE94.3A gas turbines supplied by Ansaldo Energia for this important project are characterized by high operational flexibility, reliability and cost-effectiveness. In addition, these turbines are capable of burning up to 40 percent hydrogen mixed with natural gas. This feature makes the plant future-proof. It also contributes to Azerbaijan’s national climate targets, as well as its broader goals of building a low-carbon future. This project has been a very ambitious and challenging undertaking, both technically and in terms of delivery. The full implementation of the project in just two years and its low cost and low overhead make it incomparable to similar projects. All the challenges encountered were successfully overcome thanks to constant cooperation, joint problem-solving and mutual commitment.

Today, the plant is fully operational and the equipment is delivering high performance. This is a shared success and we are proud to celebrate this achievement together with AzerEnergy in Azerbaijan.

This partnership goes far beyond a simple supplier-customer relationship. It is based on shared values ​​and, as Minister Adolfo Urso mentioned, a long-term vision. “Ansaldo Energia” does not just provide technology. We also invest in advanced training programs and local capacity building, which will provide long-term support for Azerbaijan’s energy transition.

The strength of our partnership is also reflected at the state level. The strengthening relations between Azerbaijan and Italy are proof of this. The recent meeting between His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev and our Prime Minister, Ms. Giorgia Meloni, reaffirms the importance of this strategic relationship. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between “Ansaldo Energia” and “AzerEnergy” on the sidelines of the COP29 Climate Conference. This document formalizes our shared commitment in the field of energy security, energy transition strategies and training. This symbolizes the transition to a new phase of our cooperation, built on innovation, sustainability and shared responsibility for the future.

The Republic of Azerbaijan, thanks to its strategic location, natural resources and consistent energy policy, plays a decisive role in Europe's energy security. Its role as a natural gas supplier and its efforts in the field of infrastructure modernization have made Azerbaijan one of the key players in global energy cooperation.

Ladies and gentlemen, “Ansaldo Energia” is proud to be part of the innovation path of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This is possible not only with advanced technologies, but also with our shared vision of the future of energy. Together, we are building an energy cooperation model based on both safe and sustainable technology and the human factor. We look forward to the new opportunities that this partnership will create. Today is not the end of a project. This is the beginning of a new chapter in our common path.

I would like to express my gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev, Minister Adolfo Urso, the leadership of “AzerEnergy” and everyone who contributed to achieving this magnificent result. This includes everyone from engineers to field workers, project teams to national and local institutions across the country. Your professionalism, determination and dedication have led us to witness this success today.

Thank you all.

Then, a video clip dedicated to the construction of the “8 November” Power Plant was shown.

***

Then, President Ilham Aliyev and the Minister of Italian companies and “Made in Italy” Adolfo Urso inaugurated the plant.

President Ilham Aliyev and the guests viewed the area where the missile fired at the plant by Armenia during the Patriotic War fell.

It should be noted that on October 4, 2020, a “Smerch” multiple rocket launcher with great destructive power was fired at the plant. The missile fell in the area between the 6th and 7th power units. In addition, the missile, which was fired for the second time on October 11, 2020, fell near the Control Center.

As a result of preventive measures of the relevant defense systems, the launched missiles were neutralized.

Then, the head of state and the guests attending the opening toured the plant.

***

It should be noted that, by the Decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on October 25, 2022, it was decided to build the largest power plant of the independence period on the territory of the “Azerbaijan” Thermal Power Plant (TPP) in the city of Mingachevir in order to ensure energy sustainability, meet growing demand, create additional generation capacities, increase export opportunities, save natural gas and protect the environment. The project, which was developed based on the proposals of professional engineers of Azerbaijan, also involved the implementation of the project, which was developed based on the proposals of professional engineers of Azerbaijan.

About 1,500 containers of goods and materials were brought from foreign countries by ships.

4 Util Boilers, purchased from the Chinese company “Dongfang”, with a total volume of 40 thousand cubic meters and a weight of 20 thousand tons, were brought from China.

Gas turbines and generators, including auxiliary equipment, manufactured by the Italian company “Ansaldo Energia” on order, with a total weight of more than 3 thousand tons, including auxiliary equipment, were delivered from Italy to the port of Baku via the second logistics route. Due to the large size of the loads, each weighing more than 300 and 400 tons, the bridges along the road to Mingachevir were dug up and the roads were restored after the passage was provided.

More than 2,500 foreign and local specialists worked on the construction and installation works of the “8 November” Power Plant.

A new gas pipeline with a length of 10 kilometers was built for the stable gas supply of the plant, two new gas distribution and regulating stations were built, and compressor units were installed.

In order to integrate the “8 November” Power Plant into the energy system, the 500 and 330 kV substations of the “Azerbaijan” Thermal Power Plant were completely reconstructed. In addition, the 65.6 kilometer long “Mingachevir-Samukh” transmission line was built and reconstruction works were carried out at the “Samukh” substation. In addition, fire protection, ventilation, digital control, monitoring and other necessary infrastructure were created at the plant.

While such large plants usually take 3-5 years to build, Azerbaijan was able to do it in 2 years. Compared to similar projects in many countries around the world, the cost of building this plant was quite low.