The Milli Majlis committees for Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology, and for Economic Policy, Industries and Enterprising held a joint online meeting on 18 February.

Chairman of the Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology Committee Sadig Gurbanov announced the one item on the agenda while opening the meeting. That was the draft of amendments (in the first reading) to the laws ‘On the Electrical Energy Industry’, ‘On Gas Supplies’, ‘On Water Supplies and Wastewater’, ‘On Regulation of Business Enterprise Checks and Protection of Enterprisers’ Interests’ and ‘On the Suspension of Business Enterprise Checks’.

Mr Gurbanov and Chairman of the Economic Policy, Industries and Enterprising Committee Tahir Mirkishili briefed the meeting participants on the Bill. They were saying that the proposed amendments were intended to regulate the state monopolies serving various business areas. The emendations would also tighten the state control of the whole field and eliminate unlawful interferences with operations of business enterprises. The question of extending the term of the business checks’ suspension was discussed in the Milli Majlis only recently and now the matter at issue is that of qualifying the inspection of water, gas and electricity meters and getting down their readings as a checking procedure. The application of the mechanism to correct meter tampering cases will be made easier for automatic responses from the state register, too.

The MPs Mashhur Mammadov, Elnur Allahverdiyev, Asim Mollazade, Aydin Huseynov, Igbal Mammadov, Rufat Guliyev and Nasib Mahamaliyev put forth their views upon the Bill. They also shared their thoughts of the current situation with water, gas and electricity meters, made several remarks and put forth suggestions as to governing those systems, conducting their turnaround and upgrading the corresponding infrastructure.

Mr Mirkishili made his attitude to the proposed ideas be known before telling the assembly of the international practice and experience in the electricity sales sector, of the methods people use to pay their relevant debts in various countries and about protection of business operators’ rights. At the same time, he remarked, the Bill would herald positive shifts in this sector.

It was recommended then that the Bill should be submitted for consideration in the first reading at a plenum of the Milli Majlis.

Next, the members of the Economic Policy, Industries and Enterprising discussed the draft amendments to the Tax Code of the Azerbaijan Republic and the laws ‘On the Unemployment Insurance’, ‘On the State Duty’ (all three in the third reading) and ‘On the Suspension of Business Enterprise Checks’ (this one in the second reading). It was proposed then that the amendments should be tabled at a plenum of the Milli Majlis.

Also, the members of the Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology Committee looked at the Bill to ratify the intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding between the Azerbaijan Republic and Turkmenistan about exploration, development and exploitation of the hydrocarbon resources of the offshore field ‘Dostlug’ in the Caspian Sea.

‘We have been waiting for such an accord for long years. Getting it signed in the wake of the 44-day war’s end will come as another achievement of Azerbaijan. Probably, the accord will be presented in greater detail when signed,’ Mr Gurbanov commented.

The matter was put on vote. The meeting participants agreed it should be presented for deliberations at a plenary sitting of the Milli Majlis.

The MPs Ziyad Samadzade, Agalar Valiyev, Ali Masimli, Aliabbas Salahzade, Mazahir Efendiyev, Iltizam Yusifov, Fatma Yildirim, Mahir Abbaszade and Naghif Hamzayev took part in the meeting.

The Press and Public Relations Department  
The Milli Majlis