Azerbaijan needs to develop local EPC companies, O&M contractors, and national specialists in the renewable energy sector, Elchin Targuluyev, a solar and wind energy specialist at SOCAR Green, said at the Azerbaijan & Central Asia Green Energy Week 2025.
"Renewable energy projects are complex structures, involving equipment, technology, and thousands of people. If everything is imported, the funds will flow outside the country, even if the investments are formally made in Azerbaijan. Therefore, it is necessary to develop local competencies: create EPC [engineering, procurement, and construction], O&M [operations and maintenance] companies, and equipment manufacturers, and support their development," Targuluyev noted.
According to him, this will help diversify the economy and retain investment within the country.
"Furthermore, local partnerships must include the involvement of communities living near the facilities. As part of major projects, we begin engaging with local residents at an early stage: we inform them, provide employment, and create new economic opportunities. This approach reduces the risk of conflict, improves the well-being of local communities, and fosters positive attitudes toward the projects," the SOCAR Green representative added.
