European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - EBRD

General Information

• The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), headquartered in London, was established in 1991;
• EBRD shares are owned by 77 countries from five continents, as well as the European Union and the European Investment Bank;
• As of November 2020, Odile Reno-Basso (France) has been acting as president of the EBRD.

Cooperation with Azerbaijan

Cooperation with the EBRD began in 1992, and in 1993 a local representative office of the EBRD was opened in our country.

Within the framework of the EBRD Eastern Partnership Investment Summit held in London, United Kingdom, in 2019, a Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the EBRD was signed, along with a Grant Agreement concerning Azerbaijan’s participation in the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) Fund, as well as an Agreement on Azerbaijan’s accession to the EBRD donor community.

The current cooperation between the EBRD and Azerbaijan is regulated by the Country Strategy document covering 2025-2030. The strategy document outlines the issues of increasing renewable energy generation capacity and supporting the transition to green energy, as well as increasing energy and resource efficiency and climate sustainability.

The number of projects implemented by the EBRD in Azerbaijan is about 200.

Projects financed by loans provided by the EBRD:

• Southern Gas Corridor
• 230 MW Garadagh Solar Power Plant
• 240 MW Khizi-Absheron Wind Power Plant
• Banka Solar Power Plant
• Bilasuvar Solar Power Plant

Projects provided by the EBRD with technical assistance:

• The Development of the Azerbaijan National Hydrogen Strategy and its Implementation Plan project;

The project is being implemented within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on technical assistance for the development of the electric power sector of the Republic of Azerbaijan, signed between the Ministry of Energy and the EBRD on 22 December 2022. Work on the preparation of the document is ongoing in accordance with the implementation schedule by the Working Group on the implementation of the Azerbaijan National Hydrogen Strategy and the company DNV Energy Systems Germany GmbH engaged by the EBRD.

• Support for the Conduct of Renewable Energy Auctions in Azerbaijan project;

The implementation of the project began in 2019. Within the auction held for the construction of the 100 MW Gobustan Solar Power Plant, implemented with the support of the EBRD, relevant documents were signed on 21 November 2024 during COP29 with the Chinese company Universal International Holdings Limited, which was selected as the winning bidder.  The construction of the plant is currently ongoing.

• Electricity Grid Code project;

The draft document was prepared by the consulting company DNV GL (Norway), engaged by the EBRD, and submitted to the Ministry of Energy. The Grid Code was approved by Resolution No. 315 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 25 June 2024.

• Support for the Implementation of the Necessary Regulatory Framework for Small-Scale Renewable Energy Projects in Azerbaijan project;

Within the framework of the project, the Rules on the Implementation of the Active Consumer Support Mechanism were developed and approved by Resolution No. 346 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 28 September 2023.