As recently President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev mentioned, a project named Caspian Sea Water Desalination has taken center stage with its goal of converting Caspian Sea water into potable water, aiming to utilize sustainable water sources and enhance water quality across the region.

Why is this project significant, and what challenges could it address? What technologies are involved in the desalination process, and what benefits are anticipated upon project completion?

In an interview with Ednews, Rovshan Abbasov, an expert on water resources, we have highlighted ongoing experiments in Turkmenistan and the Caspian Islands under this project's umbrella.

Abbasov stated, "Seawater desalination is a widely practiced method globally. Countries like Israel, Spain, France, the United States, and Mexico extensively employ seawater desalination for drinking and irrigation purposes. Azerbaijan has also embraced this technology since 2013, successfully irrigating 700 hectares of olive trees in the Salyan region."

He emphasized the initial costliness of desalination technology but noted that the lower salinity of the Caspian Sea compared to ocean water could render costs significantly lower.

"Moreover," Abbasov continued, "as technology advances, these costs are expected to decline gradually."

The expert underscored that desalination would not only enhance water supply for irrigation and drinking purposes in the Absheron peninsula but also reduce reliance on water from other regions like Khachmaz. He dispelled concerns about depleting the Caspian Sea, asserting that water taken from the sea would eventually return.

The project holds promise for addressing water security challenges and fostering sustainable water management practices in the region.