The date for laying the foundation stone for the desalination plant in the Caspian Sea has been announced, Selim Güven, Country Manager for Türkiye and Azerbaijan at ACWA Power said in an interview with APA’s Türkiye bureau.
Speaking about the progress of the project, he stated that bathymetric, diffusion, and other engineering and technical studies are being carried out to ensure that the project is implemented in accordance with international standards and all environmental and social requirements in force in the Caspian Sea.
He noted that, under the agreement signed between Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power and the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency, engineering and technical research work is currently being conducted on-site for the desalination plant to be constructed.
“After these studies are completed, we will submit the prepared reports to the banks. Once we receive their approval, we expect financial close approximately in the third quarter. Following the financial close, we will begin construction again in the third quarter with a groundbreaking ceremony.
According to our plan, the first water delivery is scheduled 24 months after the start of construction. In the 30th month — that is, six additional months later — the plant will be fully commissioned at full capacity.
The first phase — the substation — will be put into operation in June 2028. Full-capacity operations are planned six months later, in December 2028.
Thus, the project will be fully commissioned in 2028 and placed at the service of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” Selim Güven noted.