Azerbaijan to diversify water sources with seawater desalination plant

Azerbaijan is moving forward with its first pilot project for the desalination of seawater to produce drinking water.

This project is aimed at improving water resource management, increasing the supply of drinking water, and integrating advanced technologies in this field. The initiative is a response to the growing demand for freshwater, especially in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula.

The Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan told Caliber.Az that a tender for the construction of a seawater desalination plant was held on February 8, 2024.

After a thorough technical and financial evaluation, the consortium led by ACWA Power, a leading Saudi Arabian company, was awarded the contract. The second and third places in the competition went to the Israeli company IDE Water Assets Ltd and the UAE-based Metito Utilities Limited, respectively.

The desalination plant, with a daily capacity of 300,000 cubic meters of potable water, will be built at the Sumgayit Chemical-Industrial Park. The project, which will be funded by the consortium’s investments, is expected to be completed within 2.5 years. The operational agreement for the project will span 27.5 years, after which the management of the plant will be transferred to Azerbaijan’s State Water Resources Agency.

The construction of this plant will help diversify Azerbaijan’s freshwater sources, an essential step given the region’s increasing water demand. It is also expected to stimulate the transfer of international knowledge and technology related to drinking water supply systems, boosting the country’s technological capabilities.

ACWA Power’s portfolio includes desalination and renewable energy projects in 13 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. Founded in 2004, ACWA Power has 94 projects in operation, development, and construction, with a total investment value of $97 billion. The company’s projects provide 69 gigawatts (GW) of electricity and desalinate 8 million cubic meters of water daily.

In addition to ACWA Power, the consortium also includes the Turkish company IC İçtaş İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. This company has more than 50 years of experience in large-scale infrastructure projects, including energy production, distribution, and other critical sectors. With a workforce of over 20,000 employees, IC İçtaş has been involved in a wide range of projects globally.

By Tamilla Hasanova