WASHINGTON, U.S., March 10. SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state oil company, is advancing its digital transformation and automation initiatives in partnership with Honeywell, said Vishal Mehta, Vice President and General Manager – Connected Industrial Solutions at Honeywell, Trend’s special correspondent reports.
Mehta made the remarks during the panel discussion "Techforward: Technology Driving Growth" within the framework of U.S.-Azerbaijan Trade and Business Conference, held to mark the 30th anniversary of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC).
“Honeywell has been working with Azerbaijan for four decades, opening our first office in Baku in 2005. Our long-standing association covers automation, software, and industrial solutions across refining, chemicals, and building management systems,” Mehta said.
He noted that Honeywell has developed a substantial partnership with SOCAR focused on digital transformation and automation, with many SOCAR plants already operating on Honeywell technologies.
“As part of a five-year partnership, we are implementing digital transformation initiatives across existing SOCAR fields and new assets coming online. This includes asset performance management, operator training simulators, and digital twins — all high-tech automation solutions tailored for the energy sector. Additionally, we are supporting Azerbaijan’s ‘Digital for 2030’ and sustainability goals, including low-carbon energy, natural gas optimization, and carbon capture technologies,” Mehta added.
He emphasized that human capital remains a critical focus. “Beyond traditional engineering and operator skills, it is essential to equip staff to work with data, digital technologies, and AI safely and efficiently. This is a major component of ensuring that technological investments deliver their full potential,” he said.