Azerbaijan Railways Electrification, Signaling and Telecommunication Project (Bilajari-Yalama) (ADB-59329-001)

Regions
  • Europe and Central Asia
Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.
Countries
  • Azerbaijan
Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.
Financial Institutions
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB)
International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.
Project Status
Proposed
Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.
Bank Risk Rating
B
Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."
Borrower
Government of Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan Railways Closed Joint Stock Company
A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.
Sectors
  • Transport
The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.
Investment Type(s)
Loan
The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.
Investment Amount (USD)
$ 325.00 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Primary Source

Original disclosure @ ADB website

Updated in EWS Mar 12, 2026

Disclosed by Bank Nov 24, 2025

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Project Description
If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

According to the Bank’s website, the project comprises the procurement and installation of electrification, signaling, and telecommunication systems (EST) along the railway section of Bilajari-Yalama. These section is part of the country's north-south rail corridor, serving international freight operations (export/import/transit) of Azerbaijan Railways Closed Joint Stock Company (ADY). Most exports go through either the Baku-Boyuk Kesik or Bilajari-Yalama route. The proposed project aims to have the line fully equipped with modern electrification infrastructure (poles, catenary, substations, cabling), signaling systems (signals along track, equipment in stations, cabling) and telecommunication systems (railway network communication systems, on-board electronic devices, fiber-optic and wireless communication systems) to complete the AC power supply and signaling along the two rail corridors.

The project is aligned with the following impact: Railway transport development for Azerbaijan economically sustained. The project will have the following outcome: energy-efficient and safe railway operations along the east-west and north-south railway corridors. The output is: (i) Installation of electrification, signaling and telecom infrastructure and systems along the section Bilajari and Yalama completed.

Early Warning System Project Analysis
For a project with severe or irreversible impacts to local community and natural resources, the Early Warning System Team may conduct a thorough analysis regarding its potential impacts to human and environmental rights.

Environment: B
Involuntary Resettlement: B
Indigenous Peoples: C

Investment Description
Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.

The financing amount is $325,000,000, which will be financed on a loan basis by ADB’s ordinary capital resources.

Private Actors Description
A Private Actor is a non-governmental body or entity that is the borrower or client of a development project, which can include corporations, private equity and banks. This describes the private actors and their roles in relation to the project, when private actor information is disclosed or has been further researched.

Azerbaijan Railways CJSC is the national railways operator in Azerbaijan.

Private Actor 1 Private Actor 1 Role Private Actor 1 Sector Relation Private Actor 2 Private Actor 2 Role Private Actor 2 Sector
- - - - Azerbaijan Railways CSJC (ADY) Client -

Contact Information
This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

No contacts available at the time of disclosure.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.adb.org/forms/request-information-form

ADB has a two-stage appeals process for requesters who believe that ADB has denied their request for information in violation of its Access to Information Policy. You can learn more about filing an appeal at: https://www.adb.org/site/disclosure/appeals

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.

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