Karabakh separatists have no energy and food prospects

Previous autumn, after the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the already weak economic and financial foundations of the separatist regime in Karabakh collapsed. (See Karabakh separatists have no prospects for industrial development, Financial hopelessness of Karabakh separatists). The separatist regime was deprived of energy generation sources, which it illegally used until 2020. However, now the Armenian population of Karabakh will be able to use the possibilities of Azerbaijan, rich in energy resources, for energy supply.

During 30-year occupation of Karabakh, 36 HPPs generating 187.5 megawatts of electricity have been operating in the area with now only 6 of them with a total capacity of 75 MW being limitedly accessed by the so-called regime. Most of water resources in the region are in Tartar, Jabrayil, while solar energy potential is available in Fizuli, Jabrayil, Zangilan, wind energy potential in Kalbajar, Lachin, and geothermal energy potential in Kalbajar, Shusha. 

The analysis shows that Armenians living in the mountainous regions of Karabakh, which have lost over 60 percent of its energy generation potential, have no alternative but to join energy-rich Azerbaijan's energy generation, transmission and distribution networks. As part of the reconstruction and reintegration of Karabakh, Azerbaijan will ensure that this area is successfully integrated into the country's energy network.

The mountainous part of Karabakh is not self-sufficient in any type of food products. The separatist regime failed to address self- sufficiency in agriculture, livestock, food and beverages over the past 30 years, and this problem is likely to be solved only within the food security framework of Azerbaijan. The analysis shows that the only solution to the 30-year old food supply problem is possible only through reintegration into the Azerbaijani economy as the mountainous part of Karabakh is unable to ensure its self-sufficiency.

As seen from the Table, Kalbajar- Lachin economic region account for a large share of the output of main agricultural products and raw materials. The Kalbajar-Lachin economic region supplied 50 per cent of wheat, vegetables, potatoes, fruits and grapes, over 57 per cent of cereals and legumes, and more than 67 per cent of melons. $ 26 million (or 55 per cent) out of $ 47 million, a total amount of agricultural sales, have been generated by recently liberated territories of Karabakh. Today, 3,000 square kilometer of area deployed by Russian peacekeepers are less fertile lands as they are extensively mountainous terrains.

The same trend is followed in livestock, another element of food security. Kalbajar, Lachin, Zengilan and Gubadly account for the greater part of pastures and agricultural lands for fodder production. Historically, the lowland and highland parts of Karabakh complemented each other as part of the single economic space of Azerbaijan. Aran Karabakh served as a winter resort, while the mountainous part of Karabakh served as a pasture, factors that are important for the development of livestock. It points to the fact that the livestock development in this area is only possible if both the mountainous and lowland parts of Karabakh complement each other within the single economy of Azerbaijan. It is, therefore, necessary for Armenian population of the mountainous Karabakh involved in animal husbandry to integrated with the lowland part of Karabakh.

Azerbaijan will introduce both the fixed and working capital supply and subsidy policies to develop limited and incomplete agriculture in the mountainous part of Karabakh, while also providing access to domestic and foreign markets.