President Ilham Aliyev Lays Foundation Stone for Hakarichay Reservoir in Lachin

Baku, The Gulf Observer: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the Hakarichay Reservoir in Lachin, marking a significant step in strengthening water security, sustainable infrastructure, and socio-economic development in the country’s liberated territories.

During the ceremony, Chairman of the State Water Resources Agency, Zaur Mikayilov, briefed the president on the project’s technical specifications. The reservoir, to be built on the Hakarichay River, will have a total storage capacity of 100 million cubic metres, including 90 million cubic metres of usable water, and will be connected to a 172-kilometre main pipeline with a discharge capacity of 8 cubic metres per second.

According to the project, the new infrastructure will provide high-quality drinking water at a rate of 2.5 cubic metres per second to nearly 700,000 residents across the districts of Lachin, Gubadli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Khojavend, and Aghdam. The initiative is expected to significantly improve access to safe drinking water and enhance water resource management throughout the region.

The project also includes the construction of three hydroelectric power plants along the main pipeline, with a combined installed generation capacity of 10.81 megawatts, contributing to Azerbaijan’s renewable energy production and sustainable infrastructure development.

Officials said the Hakarichay Reservoir will play a vital role in ensuring long-term water security, supporting regional reconstruction efforts, and promoting economic growth in the liberated territories. The facility is also expected to strengthen the country’s broader water supply network by facilitating the delivery of water to other major cities across Azerbaijan.