The first event was held at the Ministry of Energy within “Heydar Aliyev year”

An event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founder of the independent state of Azerbaijan, national leader Heydar Aliyev was held at the Ministry of Energy untitled "National leader Heydar Aliyev is the author of Azerbaijan's independent energy policy"

Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, SOCAR's First Vice-President Khoshbakht Yusifzade, chairman of the Sabail District branch of NAP Mukhtar Nagiyev, the staff from the Ministry of Energy and the agencies under the Ministry, as well as media representatives attended at the meeting.

At first, flowers were laid in front of the bust of national leader Heydar Aliyev and his memory was honored.

Then the Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov said that Heydar Aliyev provided all the necessary basis for the existence of Azerbaijan as the owner of its destiny and an independent state. The great leader strengthened the political and economic independence of our country in unity, turned our state into a driving force of regional development, an influential, reliable center of partnership and stability in the international arena with a model of national development, providing comprehensive progress, and became the author of today's mighty Azerbaijan with its excellent strategy and global cooperation projects. “The National Leader saw the key to independence in various socio-political formations, mainly in energy security and getting rid of energy dependence. Today, the global energy crisis, the transformation of energy independence into the number one issue on the agenda of the leading countries of the world and the strengthening of Azerbaijan's strategic position as an energy supplier in this turbulence once again confirm the extraordinary views of Heydar Aliyev on energy security,” the Minister said.

In addition to the largest thermal power plant in the Caucasus "Azerbaijan" TPP in the Soviet period, Heydar Aliyev's services related to the commissioning of 6 power plants with a total capacity of more than 3 thousand megawatts and 17 substations of various voltages, 620 MW power plants and 6 substations in the years of independence, as well as to the development of oil industry.  It was noted that it was thanks to the will and determination of the national leader Heydar Aliyev that the first long - term international contract in the history of the oil industry of Azerbaijan-the Contract of the Century was signed. Joint development of hydrocarbon resources of the Caspian Sea with international oil companies and their export to foreign markets turned from a myth into a reality: “Heydar Aliyev was aware with his wisdom that the independence of Azerbaijan in the true sense of the word, the political and economic dependence of any state, and the fact that our country, located in a rather tense geopolitical region, can maintain a balanced foreign policy course in accordance with the national interests of our people, despite all external threats, is through the diversification of energy routes. The Baku-Supsa, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipelines are the works of Heydar Aliyev, who showed great determination in their building not only as an idea, but also as a magnificent historical reality.”

It was also emphasized in the speech that another great contribution of Heydar Aliyev to the long-term energy policy of Azerbaijan was the agreement signed in 1996 on the Shah Deniz gas field. This agreement allowed the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor. Today, each of these projects is an important source of energy security and economic success of our country and partners: “About 569 million tons of oil, 40.6 million tons of condensate, about 390 billion cubic meters of gas were extracted from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli and Shah Deniz fields, and more than 170 billion dollars were earned. More than 533 million tons were transported to other countries through BTC, of which 477.5 million tons of oil belonging to Azerbaijan and 55.4 million tons to other countries, and 99.4 million tons oil through Baku-Supsa. So far, the markets for 130 billion cubic meters of export-oriented gas have been further diversified through the South Caucasus Pipeline, TANAP and TAP. Over 27 years, 89 billion USD has been invested in the oil and gas sector.”

The Minister also stressed that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev, being the architect of sustainable development, territorial integrity and new geopolitical realities in the region with his determination, strategic vision, high leadership qualities, not only fulfilled his father's will, but also successfully raised Azerbaijan's energy policy to a new stage. 21 billion cubic meters of gas have been supplied to Europe for more than two years through the Southern Gas Corridor, which is the top of the independent energy policy enriched by the head of state. “Our country further diversifies the energy links created between the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea as a supplier of oil and the Caspian Sea and the Adriatic Sea as a supplier of gas. As a green energy supplier, establishing an energy connection between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea is one of the priorities of the green energy agenda. Projects related to the production of green energy up to 25 GW will strengthen the position of our country as a supplier of renewable energy and green hydrogen in the medium and long term.”

Speaking at the event, First Vice-President of SOCAR, academician Khoshbakht Yusifzade stressed that he always feels the high confidence, special attention and care shown to him by the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev. Noting that during the leadership of the great leader Heydar Aliyev he witnessed the production of 1 billionth ton, under the leadership of the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev-2 billionth ton of oil, the signing of the “Contract of the Century”, as well as a number of important events, Khoshbakht Yusifzade said that the services of Heydar Aliyev, the founder of the modern independent state of Azerbaijan, are invaluable to our motherland.

Noting that a crisis situation prevailed in our country until the first period of the Great Leader's leadership, Khoshbakht Yusifzade said that in 1969-1982, fundamental steps were taken for the development of the oil industry, as well as in all spheres of socio-economic life in Azerbaijan, as a result of which the oil reserves of the republic doubled, and the gas reserves of the country tripled. Stressing that the "Contract of the Century " is the first masterpiece of the new oil strategy of the Great Leader, Khoshbakht Yusifzade noted that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline realized as a result of the far-sighted policy of national leader Heydar Aliyev has made a great contribution to the direct transportation of Azerbaijani oil to European and world markets, as well as to the expansion of economic and mutually beneficial relations between Caspian littoral states.

At the end of the event, a video clip entitled “National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Energy of Azerbaijan” was demonstrated.