The Essenguly seawater desalination plant, located on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan’s Balkan Province, represents one of the most technologically advanced and strategically significant water supply projects implemented in the region.
Designed to deliver 20,000 m³ of potable water per day, the facility supplies drinking water to the settlements of Essenguly and the Etrek Region, covering domestic, industrial, and agricultural demand in an area historically affected by water scarcity.
This ambitious project was executed as a turnkey development under the leadership of G5 Group AG, with comprehensive engineering, planning, and technical management provided
by PWT Wasser- und Abwasser GmbH.
Local construction was performed by Hossarlyk, a subsidiary of Turkmen Enjam, ensuring seamless integration of global technologies with regional expertise.
Engineering Scope and Technical Configuration
The Essenguly plant incorporates a full-cycle desalination system based on advanced reverse osmosis technology. Its engineering scope includes several interconnected process stages that meet international standards for potable water production.
Seawater Intake and Pre-Treatment
The intake system ensures reliable collection and stabilization of raw seawater from the Caspian coastline and consists of:
• High-capacity seawater pumping station
• Seawater collection tank
• Multi-stage pre-treatment systems, including:
• Inline flocculation
• Multi-layer filtration
• Fine cartridge filtration
These processes remove sediments, suspended solids, and organic content, ensuring optimal conditions
for the reverse osmosis membranes and minimizing operational risks.
Reverse Osmosis Desalination Systems
The core of the plant comprises:
• 2 pre-treatment RO lines
• 4 main RO desalination lines
This multi-line architecture ensures high salt rejection efficiency, operational redundancy, and stable freshwater production under a wide range of environmental conditions.
The resulting permeate meets stringent potable water quality requirements, suitable for municipal distribution, industrial operations, and agricultural irrigation.
Chemical Dosing and Water Stabilization
Automated dosing systems support both pre- and post-treatment phases:
• Coagulants and anti-scalants for membrane protection
• pH-adjustment and remineralization systems
• Disinfection to comply with drinking water hygiene standards
This ensures consistent water quality and long-term stability of the distribution network.
Transmission Pipeline and Storage Infrastructure
After treatment, potable water is conveyed across the region via a robust transport system:
• 52 km GRE (epoxy) transmission pipeline, DN 600, PN 16 (manufactured by AMIPOX, KSA)
• Two potable water storage tanks, each with a capacity of 10,000 m³
• Two independent potable water pumping stations for stable supply into the regional distribution grid
This infrastructure underpins long-distance water delivery in challenging climatic conditions.
Electric Power Systems and Automation
The plant is equipped with a complete electrical and automation suite designed for high reliability:
• Medium-voltage systems and transformers
• Low-voltage main and sub-distribution boards
• Full range of process instrumentation
• PLC automation: SIMATIC S7
• Central control system: WinCC
The integration of Siemens automation technologies ensures precise monitoring, operational control, and fault detection across all process stages.
Project Execution and Construction Timeline
The project’s implementation timeline reflects a decade-long commitment to delivering a critical water supply solution:
• Contract award: 2014
• Construction supervision: PWT Wasser- und Abwasser GmbH, supported by its Ashgabat branch
• Local construction works: Hossarlyk (Turkmen Enjam)
• Project delays due to:
• Global COVID-19 restrictions
• Multi-year construction halt resulting from end-user financing issues
• Financing resolved: 2024
• Mechanical completion & test operation: October 2025
• Official inauguration: Early November 2025
Today, the regional distribution network is being expanded, and the plant’s output is already improving water availability for local households, industry, and agriculture.
Strategic Impact for the Region
The Essenguly desalination plant stands as a critical infrastructure asset for Turkmenistan, delivering:
• sustainable access to safe drinking water,
• increased water security for remote coastal areas,
• reliable supply for agricultural and industrial development,
• reduced environmental impact through advanced, energy-efficient RO technology.
This project exemplifies the successful collaboration of international engineering expertise, modern water treatment technologies, and local execution capabilities.