Category: Azer News

The STAR Oil Refinery, operated in Turkiye by the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), significantly increased both its crude oil imports and petroleum product output in August 2025, Azernews reports, citing data from the Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK).

In August 2025, the refinery imported approximately 911.3 thousand tons of crude oil, marking a 77.2% increase compared to 514.25 thousand tons in the same month of 2024.

Production volumes rose across nearly all product categories. Diesel fuel output climbed 55.3% to 522.4 thousand tons from 336.4 thousand tons a year earlier. Aviation kerosene production surged 39.6%, reaching 173.2 thousand tons compared to 124.1 thousand tons in August 2024. Naphtha output also grew 53.3%, totaling 133.3 thousand tons, up from 86.95 thousand tons last year.

The refinery more than doubled its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production, which rose 121.6% to 24.9 thousand tons, compared to 11.25 thousand tons in August 2024. Coke production increased 42.1%, from 47.46 thousand tons to 67.4 thousand tons.

In addition, the refinery produced 7.265 thousand tons of vacuum gas oil and 10.2 thousand tons of high-sulfur diesel in August 2025 – product types not recorded in the same month the previous year.

Launched on October 19, 2018, the STAR Refinery integrates oil refining with petrochemical production and is recognized as the largest real-sector investment project in the Turkish economy.

As of the end of 2024, the refinery’s annual processing capacity reached 13 million tons of crude oil. It produces a wide range of petroleum products, including diesel, naphtha, and jet fuel. The refinery’s annual naphtha output almost fully meets the feedstock demand of the Petkim petrochemical complex, also owned by SOCAR.

From October 20 to 31, a series of events titled “Wind of Culture” are underway in the Garabagh region, Azernews reports.

The project is organized by the Culture Ministry’s Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center for Culture (MEMIM) with the support of the Karabakh Regional Culture Department.

As part of the series, from October 20 to 25, workshops were held at the Agdam State Drama Theater (Guzanly settlement) under the project titled “Lessons of Professional Theater in the Regions”.

The main goal of the project is to enhance the professionalism of the theater collective, create an active creative environment, and draw attention to modern trends in performing arts.

Theoretical and practical workshops were conducted by Honored Artist, Associate Professor of the Department of “Dramatic Directing and Stage Movement” at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, director Bahram Osmanov, and theater critic, MEMIM employee Daglar Yusif.

The theater staff received the sessions with great interest and enthusiasm.

Note that MEMIM’s project “Lessons of Professional Theater in the Regions” has been implemented since October 2024.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az,Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inspected the progress of the second phase of Aghali village and attended the opening of Mammadbayli village in Zangilan district on October 28, Azernews reports.

The second phase includes the construction of 103 houses, of which 55 are two-room individual houses, and three are three-story, two-block ‘Townhouse’-type buildings containing 36 one-room and 12 two-room apartments.

Communication lines have been laid to all houses in the village. All residential and non-residential buildings have been supplied with gas, and combi boilers have been installed in the houses.

A park covering more than 2 hectares has also been established in the area. It will serve as an open recreation and entertainment zone for residents of Agali and Mammadbeyli villages, as well as guests. The park area is divided into five functional zones, with all necessary conditions created for children’s recreation, sports, and entertainment. Various trees and ornamental plants have been planted across the territory.

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Then, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of Mammadbayli village in Zangilan district.

The head of state was briefed on the facilities created in the village.

The village covers 51.6 hectares and includes 188 individual houses: 39 two-room, 55 three-room, 55 four-room, and 39 five-room units. Each home has a fenced yard, solar panels, and connections to water, electricity, gas, and high-speed internet. Internal roads are fully asphalted.

Two multifunctional non-residential buildings have been constructed, and administrative facilities, along with retaining and passage walls, are adorned with artistic designs that enhance the village’s visual appeal.

Situated near Aghali village, Mammadbayli is connected to it via a dedicated passage, ensuring economic efficiency and easy access to Agali’s infrastructure – including a 360-student secondary school, a 60-place kindergarten, a Family Health Center, household services, a service center, pharmacy, market complex, and other facilities.

After touring the village facilities, President Ilham Aliyev met with residents relocating to Mammadbayli and Aghali, personally presenting them with house keys.

The 1st Forum of Azerbaijani Cultural Ambassadors will be held from November 3 to 5. The forum will take place in Antalya, Turkiye, Azernews reports.

The event is organised by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

The forum aims to promote Azerbaijani culture internationally in an organised manner through cultural ambassadors and their network, stimulate the activities of cultural figures living abroad, and provide additional support for the development of art and creative fields.

Achieving closer cooperation between Azerbaijani Cultural Centres and Houses of Azerbaijan abroad is also among the goals of the forum.

Within the framework of the forum, the presentation of the “Cultural Ambassadors” digital portal and the ‘National Language’ project will take place.

During the event, three panel discussions are planned, as well as reporting meetings of Azerbaijani Cultural Centres and Houses of Azerbaijan abroad.

At the same time, a concert program featuring Azerbaijani artists is planned as part of the “Path of Culture” Festival held in Antalya.

As reported earlier, on October 22 this year, six citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including two women and four children, were repatriated from the Syrian Arab Republic, Azernews reports, citing the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman).

The Ombudsman noted the institution’s representatives met with the repatriated citizens who had been placed in a social service facility under the Social Services Agency of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population.

During the meeting, officials were briefed on the medical, social, and psychological assistance being provided to the repatriated individuals and examined the measures taken to ensure their rights.

It was determined that the children required specialised psychological support to address trauma-related issues and aid their social adaptation. This concern was brought to the attention of the facility’s management. Additionally, recommendations were made to support the reintegration of the repatriated individuals into society and to help them access educational and employment opportunities.

Within the framework of the meeting, the repatriated citizens were also informed about the Ombudsman’s areas of activity and the existing mechanisms for protecting their rights.

The statement emphasised that the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan continues to prioritise the repatriation of Azerbaijani citizens living under difficult conditions abroad and ensures the protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel, Azernews reports.

“Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I sincerely congratulate you and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Czech Republic.

I am confident that we will continue our joint efforts to strengthen interstate relations between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic and to expand our cooperation in areas of mutual interest for the well-being of our peoples.

I convey my best regards to you and wish your people lasting peace and prosperity,” the letter reads.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev shared a post on his social media pages on the occasion of Trkiye’s Republic Day, Azernews reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of the barley malt processing facility of “Promalt” Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Imishli on October 28, Azernews reports.

The facility will produce malt – a product obtained by processing barley, the main raw material for beer production, through specialized processes to prepare it for fermentation. Equipped with modern machinery from the Swiss company Bhler GmbH and a fully automated processing system, the facility has an annual production capacity of 11,000 tons of barley malt.

The total investment in the project amounts to 33.2 million manats.

Implemented through a partnership between the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy, “Azersheker” LLC, and “Azersun Holding” LLC, the facility has benefited from tax and customs exemptions under the state’s investment incentive program. The barley malt produced at the facility will also supply raw materials to the “Carlsberg Azerbaijan” beer plant. As the first modern production facility in the South Caucasus specializing in brewing barley processing, the project is significant for advancing agro-industrial integration, technological modernization, sustainable raw material supply, and localization of production in the region. The facility will create 47 jobs.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for the Jabrayil City Mosque on October 28, Azernews reports.

Nariman Topchibashev, Director of ‘PMD Projects,’ briefed the President on the project.

The mosque will cover over 1,530 square meters and accommodate 615 worshippers simultaneously. The two-story building will provide separate spaces for men and women to perform prayers. In addition, the mosque will feature a community hall, parking lot, and gazebos. The height of the minarets will be 34.2 meters, while the dome will reach 22.6 meters.

Before the occupation, Jabrayil district had five mosques, more than 40 pilgrimage sites, and over 20 historical and architectural monuments. During the occupation, Armenian forces destroyed many of these historical and religious sites. Since the liberation of Azerbaijani territories, the state has undertaken extensive restoration and reconstruction work in Karabakh and East Zangezur, including the construction of new religious and cultural monuments. An example is the mosque built in 2017 in Jojug Marjanli village, modeled after the Shusha mosque.

‘Today’s reality, this day, is a celebration of justice,’ said President Ilham Aliyev during his meeting with residents of Horovlu village in Jabrayil district.

Stressing the importance of believing in justice and ensuring it, the head of state added: ‘Our people both believed in justice and fought for it. We are the owners of these lands. We have expelled the enemy from our lands and are building a wonderful life here today.’