A ceremony for the opening of the tender envelope for the implementation of the project for the construction of a drinking water production plant through seawater desalination has been held.
Improving the use of water resources, ensuring water security, increasing the supply of drinking water to the population, and attracting new technologies to this sector are of significant importance in socio-economic development in Azerbaijan.
In line with these goals, a pilot project for the production of drinking water through seawater desalination has been initiated by the relevant Decree of the Head of State. On February 8, 2024, a competition was announced by the Ministry of Economy to attract potential investors for the design, construction, financing, and management of a seawater desalination plant under a public-private partnership framework.
After the relevant documents were submitted by 8 companies to the Ministry of Economy to participate in the competition, a qualification assessment was carried out. Based on the results of the assessment, the companies that met the requirements were sent the terms and conditions of the competition. In accordance with the required conditions, the applicant companies submitted their proposals.
At the event held at the Ministry of Economy, the bid envelopes were opened with the participation of representatives from the applicant companies. In the next phase, the technical and financial proposals submitted by the applicant companies for the project will be evaluated, and based on this, the winner of the competition will be determined. A public-private partnership agreement will be signed with the winning company.
At the opening ceremony of the bid envelopes, Deputy Minister of Economy Samad Bashirli and Advisor to the Chairman of the Azerbaijan State Water Reserves Agency Asad Shirinov highlighted the importance of the project.
It was stated that, taking into account issues such as water quality, infrastructure condition, and the environment, the project is planned to be implemented in Sumgayit city. Based on the needs of the population and the economy, as well as the results of the country's water forecasts, it is anticipated that the demand for drinking water will increase in the coming years, with the project's production capacity set at 100 million m³ per year. It was emphasized that the main goal of the project is to meet the increasing demand for drinking water in Baku city and the Absheron Peninsula, diversify fresh water sources, reduce the financial and technical burden on the state's drinking water supply system, stimulate the transfer of international experience and technology to the country in the field of drinking water supply, and attract foreign investments to the national economy.
Desalination projects for drinking water production through seawater desalination are being implemented in several countries around the world. Global warming, inefficient use of water resources, and increasing droughts worldwide have prompted the active use of desalination plants for drinking water production. In recent years, the "Reverse Osmosis" technology has been applied in seawater desalination projects worldwide. In several countries, these projects are being carried out under the public-private partnership model.
