The heat supply system is a complex technological process that encompasses production, transportation, distribution, supply and consumption. It can be categorized into centralized and autonomous systems.
Centralized heat supply is achieved by heating the heat carrier (water) using the heat obtained from burning fuel in boiler rooms and transporting it through the heating network to the heating devices of one or more residential, public, industrial and other buildings.
Centralized heat sources in Azerbaijan include combined heat and power (CHP) plants, district heating boiler houses or local boiler houses.
Autonomous heat supply systems are designed to provide heat to individual residential or non-residential areas through independent heating units (such as combi boilers, gas or wood stoves, etc.) utilizing heat energy derived from fuel combustion.
The foundation of Azerbaijan’s heating system was established in the early 19th century with the creation of the Baku CHP plant, with the capacity to produce both electricity and heat. Initially, the system was intended to supply industrial steam to nearby oil refineries. However, as the supply system expanded, additional consumers began to receive heat.
During that period, the most efficient heating systems were local boiler houses, which could serve only one or two buildings and were mainly designed to operate on mazut.
This form of centralized heating laid the groundwork for Baku’s future heating infrastructure.
Starting in the 1960s, the construction of new residential areas in Baku and other industrial cities across the country led to the introduction of district heating boiler houses – highly centralized heating systems featuring modern boiler units that were state-of-the-art at the time.
In large cities such as Sumgayit, Ganja, Mingachevir, Shirvan, various heating options — including CHP plants, local boiler systems and individual heating solutions — have been employed, depending on local conditions and the state of the fuel and energy complex.
In smaller towns and districts, individual heating options utilizing different fuels (such as gas, wood, kerosene, etc.) have been prevalent, due to the predominance of individual housing. In these areas, centralized heating supply covers only a few high-rise residential buildings and educational, healthcare and other administrative facilities.
By Order No. 847 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated June 8, 2005, on improving management in the field of heat supply in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azeristiliktejhizat OJSC was established.
By Resolution No. 303 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated September 5, 2023, the Rules for the Use of Heat were approved to regulate the relations between energy suppliers and consumers regarding heat usage. This includes addressing related issues such as providing technical conditions for consumer connections to the heating network and the purchase of additional supply.
