BAKU, Azerbaijan — President Ilham Aliyev on Sept. 26 took part remotely in the opening of the 3.2-megawatt Minkend small hydropower plant and the launch of a textile complex designed to produce 11 million shirts a year.
The ceremonies were held online from the Baku Congress Center during the second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum.
Integrated Textile Production
Textile Horizon’s new facility will be built on 11.2 hectares in the Mingachevir Industrial Park. The project is intended to integrate cotton cultivation with the production of cotton fiber, yarn, fabric and finished clothing.
Planned annual output includes 16,000 metric tons of cotton fiber, 11,000 tons of yarn, 7,300 tons of dyed fabric and 11 million shirts. The products are expected to be sold in Azerbaijan and exported.
Textile Horizon was founded by Azersheker, Global Textile and the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Fund. As an industrial park resident, the company is eligible for the tax and customs incentives available at the site.
Five-Plant Hydropower Program
The Minkend plant in Azerbaijan’s Lachin district is expected to generate about 11.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The facility was built using Austrian and Italian technology.
Minkend is part of a 53.2 million-manat public-private partnership that also covers the Galacha-1, Galacha-2, Malibey and Tartar-1 small hydropower plants. The remaining stations are scheduled to enter service by the end of 2026.
The five plants will have a combined capacity of 12.9 megawatts and projected annual generation of 44.1 million kilowatt-hours. Their operating term is set at 30 years.
Sources: Vesti Baku; Office of the President of Azerbaijan.