PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV ATTENDS INAUGURATION OF MODULAR POWER STATION IN KHACHMAZ
The foundation stone of the 87-megawatt station designed to meet electricity needs of Guba, Gusar and Khachmaz provinces, was laid in March of this year.
Prior to the ceremony, the President laid flowers at the monument to the national leader of the people of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev mounted in the center of the town of Khachmaz, and toured the administrative building of the station. He familiarized with an exhibition of photographs depicting national leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev while visiting Khachmaz, their activities, and the ceremony of laying foundation stone for the station.
After that the President arrived at the ceremony site where was warmly welcomed by thousands of local residents.
He pressed the button symbolically launching the power station.
The Head of State delivered a speech to the ceremony.
“Opening of this station is a very important event; it is the manifestation and evidence of how great attention is paid to energy sector in Azerbaijan. Putting this station into operation is a great support and help to the economy of Azerbaijan, and is of paramount importance for solving social problems of its citizens,” President Ilham Aliyev said.
“Today, Azerbaijan is a large oil producing and exporting country. Of course, our economic situation is getting better. We ensure our energy security by ourselves. Therefore, Azerbaijan with its rich natural resources should have all its energy system updated,” he said.
“The great advantage of the module-type power stations is that it takes a very short period to construct and put them into operation. Electricity should be supplied to every region of Azerbaijan; light should be available in houses at any time, electricity is needed for enterprises to operate, and we ensure all this. The similar stations are ready to be launched in Nakhchivan and Baku. So, extra 450 MW of electricity will be generated in Azerbaijan within a year,” the President said.
“Azerbaijan will become a very rich country with powerful industrial potential, and this is what we are working at. Establishment of the State Investment Company, development of entrepreneurship - all this will, first and foremost, facilitate enhancement of the industrial potential in Azerbaijan. It definitely requires electricity,“ the Head of State said.
“Today, energy security is the most important, major, problem in global politics. In this context, Azerbaijan is in a favorable situation, as we possess natural resources. A month ago, a memorandum on energy cooperation was signed with the European Union, that is the evidence of enhancement of both economic and political prestige of Azerbaijan,” he said.
“We rely on our own resources. As long as we are free and independent economically, we are free and independent politically as well,” the President said.
“It is three years since the State Program of socio-economic development of regions has been implemented. Over this period, 500 thousand jobs have been created in the country. Our today’s goal is to eliminate unemployment and poverty completely in Azerbaijan. Minimum wage rise is planned in the beginning of the next year,” he said.
“Of course, we bind up our economic potential with energy factor. But to achieve the all-round development of our country, we should also develop non-oil sector and agriculture, and create powerful industrial - these are the issues of our primary concern,” the President emphasized.
“The goal I have set to myself is to convert Azerbaijan to a developed country. We possess all that is needed to achieve it: natural resources, infrastructure to deliver them to the world markets, and deliberate and being successfully implemented programs. We also have very gifted, competent and well-educated human resources. That is why, along with the economic factors, we pay a great attention to humanitarian issues,” he said.
“New schools are being equipped with computers connected to the Internet. Children should follow developments taking place in the world, become familiar with advanced technologies and have high standard of knowledge. I am sure of that; I am doing and will be doing my best for that.
In my work, I rely on my people, and derive my strength from my people; your support gives me more selflessness, more power. I feel it, and this is what allows me to carry out fearlessly all the reforms, and the policy. The most important thing to me is happiness of the people of Azerbaijan, and national interest of Azerbaijan. This is what my policy is aimed at, and I am sure, that together, with the support of people, we will do achieve the all-round development of Azerbaijan, and create a powerful and rich state,” President Ilham Aliyev concluded.
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