The Azerbaijani government is actively working on the peaceful development of its nuclear energy programme, Deputy Energy Minister Elnur Soltanov stated during a parliamentary committee hearing on natural resources, energy and ecology on March 3, according to Report.

While no final decision has been made on constructing a nuclear power plant, the country continues to develop its regulatory framework and human capital to support potential future nuclear infrastructure.

Soltanov stressed that Azerbaijan's nuclear efforts are strictly for peaceful purposes.

He noted that uranium-based reactors dominate global nuclear energy production due to their feasibility for dual-use applications. While thorium reactors have yet to be widely deployed worldwide, China is expected to commercialise thorium technology from 2030 onwards, potentially producing 100 MW or more per unit.

Azerbaijan has been considering nuclear energy development for over two decades, with discussions dating back to the early 2000s. The country has engaged with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on research reactor proposals and regulatory frameworks. In recent years, Azerbaijan has strengthened cooperation with international partners, including Russia’s Rosatom and France’s Orano, to explore nuclear power as part of its long-term energy diversification strategy.

However, Azerbaijan’s nuclear ambitions trace back to the Soviet era. Already in 1980, the foundation for the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) with a design capacity of about 1,000 MW was laid near the settlement of Navahi, located 90 km southwest of Baku. 

The choice of location was explained by plans to expand the industrial potential of the southern region of the republic, and primarily by the fact that the territory of the future station, according to Soviet scientists, was located in a seismically favourable zone. However, as a result, the implementation of this project was somewhat delayed, and ultimately abandoned following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and amid shifting priorities towards oil and gas development. 

After gaining independence in 1991, Azerbaijan inherited no nuclear infrastructure but maintained active engagement with international nuclear bodies.

In 2024, during the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assess the feasibility of nuclear energy. Officials argue that introducing nuclear power could reduce domestic natural gas consumption, freeing up more resources for export and enhancing energy security. 

The government is also evaluating advanced small modular reactor (SMR) technology as a potential solution. Azerbaijan remains committed to international non-proliferation agreements, having acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and implemented full IAEA safeguards.