The construction phase of the wind park in the Absheron-Garadagh region will begin this year, stated Kamil Manafov, Masdar's manager for the Bilasuvar project, at the event titled "Just Transition Dialogue: Ensuring a Just Transition to a Green Economy in Azerbaijan."
He noted that the company's solar projects in Bilasuvar and Neftchala are currently in the construction phase.
Manafov said that Masdar considers the employment of local residents and inhabitants of surrounding villages and settlements as a priority in the regions where it operates: "We closely cooperate with the State Employment Agency and vocational schools on this matter. Currently, a 445-megawatt solar power plant, the largest in the region, is being built in the Bilasuvar district. Before the project started, we contacted the vocational lyceum in the district and informed them in advance about the specialties we would need. Admissions were conducted in this direction at the lyceum, and 17 students were enrolled in education. Throughout the year, our specialists conducted classes for them and internship programs were organized. The process of providing employment to those young people who successfully completed their exams last week is currently underway."
According to him, the construction phase that begins after the initial stage managed by the Abu Dhabi headquarters brings the demand for workforce in the region to its peak level: "The main advantage of the construction phase is that what you see in this chart is the peak phase of the workforce. We are able to provide Azerbaijani citizens with jobs during that time. The number of participants in our previous project had reached 2,000. In this project, 1,500 people are participating. That means thousands of people are being provided with employment. They are not just provided with temporary jobs, they also acquire a profession."
