Winter threatens residents of six Azerbaijani villages: their homes still lack access to natural gas supplies

Six villages in the south of Azerbaijan (in the Astara and Lerik districts) have not yet been supplied with gas. For household needs, many in the area use gas cylinders and, in general, anything that burns. They told the BBC that they do not know what they will do in winter when the cold comes. Some are even going to cut down fruit trees in their gardens to use as firewood.

The government has recently toughened measures against deforestation making it too risky to use ‘free’ firewood, and buying it is expensive:

“One car-load of firewood costs 300 manats (about USD 177). I have a pension of 200 manats (about USD 118). So what should I spend it on? Medicine, firewood or something else?” says an angered elderly resident fom one of the villages.

Scandals around illegal logging in Azerbaijan erupt regularly. Trees in Baku are generally cut down when they get in the way of commercial development, though in regional areas they are used for heating.

Since late 2016 the fine for illegally cutting down trees has doubled, and now ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 manat (about USD 3 to 4 thousand).

Azerigaz, Azerbaijan’s gas agency, says that the their pipelines will not reach these villages this year. Even next year’s prospects are unclear as it depend on state funds.

According to official data, 95 per cent of Azerbaijan has access to gas.