On 14 October, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended a ceremony to open a module-type power plant in Sheki.

President of the Stock company Azerenergy Etibar Perverdiyev informed the Head of State that construction of the 87-megawatt power plant had begun in October of 2005 with Finnish company Vartsila as the main contractor for the project. Construction activities were carried out by local company Azenco. After touring the power station’s facilities, the Azerbaijani President pressed the start button symbolically launching the station.

President Ilham Aliyev made a speech at the opening ceremony.

The following are excerpts from his speech:

“The Order on construction of new module-type power plants in Azerbaijan was signed in July of the last year. Two stations have already been put into operation. It proves that all our decisions are realized very quickly.”

“Look, 470 thousand new workplaces have been open in Azerbaijan for the past three years. Hundreds of new schools, hospitals and roads have been built. All this is definitely requires rapid strengthening our energy system.”

“For the past three years, 700 megawatt units have been put into operation. In the next three years, according to our plans, the energy system will get 1700 megawatt, and in five years, 2400 megawatt of power. This is 50 percent more than the current electricity potential of Azerbaijan.”

“Azerbaijan will have huge potential in the future. It will first meet Azerbaijan’s own needs for electricity, and then will allow the country to export its electricity. We are capable of ding this. ”

“This year, Shah Denis field is going to start operation. This is a giant project too. It will provide Azerbaijan with natural gas. There is s great need for that as so far we import natural gas from abroad. We import 500 million cubic meters of gas from Russia paying $500 million for that. Given that the gas price is now on the rise, it will have an impact on us. That’s why the Shah Denis field is as a historical for us as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.”

“Azerbaijan will do completely ensure its energy security. Today, we can see that Azerbaijan is playing a very important role in ensuring the European energy security. If the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Shah Denis gas field had not been put into operation, we would face great problems.”

“The yearly growing budget of Azerbaijan allows us to solve any existing problems. Over the past three years, our state budget has grown 4-fold, and the next year budget will reach $6 billion against 1 billion 500 million in 20043.”

“Azerbaijan leads the world in economic growth rate. It may be the world’s record that the economy is growing 30-40- percent per year. ”

“Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its positions in the world. And it already is the leading country in the region. We have very sincere and friendly relations with all the large states.”

“Next year military spending will reach $1 billion, and Azerbaijan will have a very powerful army.”

“Social problems are the matter of our daily focus. Salaries and pensions are increased, and will be increased every year. Those of education and healthcare workers have recently been raised. Next year minimum salaries will rise.”

“Support of private business is increased, with $100 million set aside in the state budget to support those who want to start their own business. “The Joint Stock Company “Agro Leasing” was founded to provide technical assistance to farmers.”

“Unemployment and poverty should be fully eliminated. For a year, poverty in the country has been reduced 20 percent. As far as I know, it will reduce even more this year. Not a single poor man, and not a single jobless should remain in Azerbaijan.”

“We are devoted to market economy, and we will develop our economy on these principles.

We know where we go, we know what we want, and we know what direction Azerbaijan should develop in. Azerbaijan has been living as an independent state fore 15 years. It has proved its independence by the independent policy it has been carrying out. This independent policy will bring Azerbaijan to the brilliant future.”