Azerbaijan keen on environmental protection
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the environmental safety issue within the framework of the development of industrial production, Azerbaijani Deputy Industry and Energy Minister Gulmammad Javadov said at the "GreenEvo - Green Technology Accelerator" workshop on September 25.
According to Javadov, enterprises and factories that are being constructed in Azerbaijan are based on modern technology, which is also aimed at ensuring protection of ecology and environment.
There is a state agency in Azerbaijan to develop high technologies and use of alternative and renewable energy sources in the country. One of the main objectives of this agency is to bring the country's level of renewable energy usage to 20 percent.
According to Javadov, new projects are implemented and enterprises are created in Azerbaijan in the sphere of development of alternative energy and creation of a specialized technology park is planned.
Addressing the workshop, Polish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Michal Labenda said Poland is one of the leading countries in Europe for the development of green technology.
Poland considers the development of this area as a priority and is ready to share its experience, he said.
The Polish Ministry of Environment implements the GreenEvo project, the purpose of which is to transfer Polish innovative technology to the field of the environment and the global spread of technical ideas.
The priority of the project is to supply Polish technology in the field of environment to foreign markets, Labenda said.
Azerbaijan is abundant of alternative energy sources and started usage of their resources with establishment of the State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources in 2009. Some 10 percent of the power produced in the country falls to the share of hydropower plants.
The Agency plans to double the share of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan to 20 percent by 2020.