Expert: 'Azerbaijan will supply gas to Khankandi and develop it'

Azerbaijan is interested in supplying gas to Khankandi and improving and developing other infrastructure facilities, Azerbaijani economist-expert Eldaniz Amirov told Report when commenting on the issue of gas pumping from Aghdam to Khankandi in the "I State Program on the Great Return to Territories Freed from Occupation."

According to him, Khankandi is equally important for Azerbaijan as Aghdam, Gubadli, Zangilan and other territories freed from occupation: "Khankandi belongs to Azerbaijan and this is not the subject of discussion. For this reason, the construction of this pipeline will be carried out by the state companies of Azerbaijan. Funds for the implementation of these projects will be allocated from the state budget of Azerbaijan."

The expert said that the "I State Program for the Great Return to the Territories Freed from Occupation" contains many directions: "This State Program contains no less, no more, exactly 276 measures, which will promote economic reintegration, infrastructure, and development in this area. It is an action plan to ensure environmental and social development. This program was formed in 6 main priority directions. It is in the 4th priority direction that issues related to the creation of infrastructure in these areas, including telecommunications, postal services, and the laying of main gas lines, have been identified. The construction of the gas pipeline from Aghdam to Khankandi is also within this framework."

Amirov believes that the Azerbaijani side is not satisfied with the construction of this gas pipeline only: "There is a plan of various actions related to Khankandi. In a word, the Azerbaijani side's planning of measures related to Khankendi clearly means that Khankandi is accepted by Azerbaijan as one of our other administrative regions and subordinate cities of the republic, which means that Azerbaijan treats it as an administrative territorial unit without making any distinction. Naturally, this is already established in such an official and important document of Azerbaijan."

The expert reminded that 2.2 billion manats ($1.29 billion) were allocated from the budget for the reconstruction of Karabakh: "It is planned to allocate funds for the reconstruction of Karabakh from the state budget, the State Oil Fund and other sources. Naturally, local and foreign companies will operate in the execution of these works. This activity will play a role in ensuring employment in Azerbaijan. Foreign companies will act as contractors in the development of Karabakh."

By 2025, a gas pipeline with a length of 33.9 km is planned to be constructed from Aghdam to Khankandi. There are also plans to build branches of the pipeline by installing gas control points on it.

This is reflected in the "I State Program on the Great Return to Territories Freed from Occupation", approved by President Ilham Aliyev on November 16.