BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. AzerEnergy is ramping up efforts to modernize the power grid in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, as part of a broader push to connect the region to an emerging international energy corridor, Trend reports via the company.
The project includes a sweeping upgrade of key substations critical to the region’s electricity supply. The 110-kilovolt “Nakhchivan,” 154-kilovolt “Babek,” and 100-kilovolt “Cheshmebasar” facilities are being fully rebuilt, with work now in its final stages.
Officials say the “Nakhchivan” substation will become the region’s first fully enclosed facility, a move expected to improve safety and streamline operations.
At the same time, AzerEnergy is advancing digital upgrades across the grid. A new regional digital control center is under construction, and existing infrastructure will be integrated into a unified SCADA system, enabling real-time, remote management of the network.
Transmission infrastructure is also being modernized. Aging power lines dating back to the 1950s are being replaced with higher-capacity systems. In the first phase, the “Julfa,” “Ordubad-1,” and “Ordubad-2” lines - spanning about 69 kilometers - were rebuilt as double-circuit lines. Portions of overhead lines running through residential areas are also being moved underground to align with modern urban standards.
The upgrades are part of a larger strategy to link Nakhchivan to Azerbaijan’s main power grid and expand connectivity through the planned Azerbaijan–Türkiye–Europe energy corridor. As part of that effort, construction is underway on a 330-kilovolt, two-circuit transmission line with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts starting from Jabrayil.
A future phase includes an additional 44-kilometer line crossing the Zangezur corridor, a project officials say will strengthen Nakhchivan’s role in regional energy transit.
