{"id":94770,"date":"2026-05-09T07:41:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T04:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mdu.edu.az\/?p=94770"},"modified":"2026-05-20T07:44:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T04:44:12","slug":"visionary-09-05-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mdu.edu.az\/ru\/visionary-09-05-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Azerbaijan\u2019s Path to Energy Independence: Heydar Aliyev\u2019s Visionary Policy and Geoeconomic Initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"

The article discusses Azerbaijan\u2019s path toward energy independence, focusing on the visionary policies and geoeconomic initiatives implemented by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev during this process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The development of the energy sector in Azerbaijan in the early 20th century was directly linked to the growth of the oil industry. During the Soviet period, Azerbaijan developed its industry and economy within the Union through integrated and chain-like cooperation with other Soviet republics. During the time when the Great Leader, National Leader Heydar Aliyev, held senior positions in Soviet government institutions, numerous industrial enterprises and power plants were built and commissioned in Azerbaijan. In 1974, the foundation of \u201cAzDRES\u201d (currently \u201cAzerbaijan Thermal Power Plant\u201d) was laid in Mingachevir, and with the participation of the Great Leader, the first power unit of the station was commissioned in 1981. Subsequently, one unit was commissioned each year, and by 1988, the eighth unit had been put into operation, allowing the thermal power station\u2014with a capacity of 2400 MW and operating with \u0441\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0445critical parameters\u2014to function at full capacity as the largest thermal power plant in the South Caucasus. With the commissioning of this station, Mingachevir became not only Azerbaijan\u2019s but also the South Caucasus\u2019s most important energy center. This was not merely a construction project; it was the deliberate formation of the economic backbone and energy security of a future independent Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the early 1990s, Azerbaijan had just regained its independence and was facing serious political and economic difficulties. The energy sector was poorly managed, and there was a severe lack of investment. Under such circumstances, efficient use of the country\u2019s energy resources and access to international markets became critically important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time when Azerbaijan had just restored its independence, the country was on the verge of political and economic collapse. Returning to power in 1993 at the strong insistence of the people, Heydar Aliyev clearly understood that economic independence was the guarantee of political independence. His extraordinary foresight lay in viewing Azerbaijan\u2019s hydrocarbon resources not merely as a source of economic revenue, but as an unshakable geopolitical shield that would protect the country\u2019s state independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The historic \u201cContract of the Century,\u201d signed on September 20, 1994, and the construction of the once seemingly impossible Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline brought Azerbaijan\u2019s energy resources to global markets. The signing of the Contract of the Century became a turning point in Azerbaijan\u2019s energy strategy. It attracted the world\u2019s leading oil companies to the Caspian basin and created favorable conditions for substantial foreign investment into the country. This step strengthened Azerbaijan\u2019s international position not only economically, but also politically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of these initiatives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n