OREANDA-NEWS. February 18, 2010. One of the experts stated that the WB research of the situation with the Caspian Sea do not leave doubts that the level of the basin is going to raise.

“In this connection the Bank recommends the littoral states to refrain themselves from projects to promote to water level rise. And Azerbaijan keeps on increasing the burden on the coastal area connected with the Caspian water area through natural drainage system.

In particular, according to the WB, a mistake is construction of such large storage reservoir as Takhtakorpu, Velvelchay-Takhtakorpu channel (part of Samur-Absheron Complex) and a power station. Ceyranbatan water storage reservoir built in the 40s of XX century for watersupply of Baku is already a limiting level of the burden. And Takhtakorpu project threatens technological environmental impact to the Caspian coast and is able to lead to numerous landslides in the sea because of water encroachment rise,” the expert said.

The on-growing budget of the project works is financed by the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ).

Completion of construction of Takhtakorpu water storage reservoir and Takhtakorpu-Velvelchay channel (part of Samur-Absheron Complex) is scheduled for 2011.

Velvelchay-Takhtakerpu channel’s length will make 110.33 km. Only the capacity of the channel entering into the complex has to make 80 cubic metres a second. The general concept of the Samur-Absheron complex reconstruction is calculated as \\$900 million capital investments. Reconstruction of the channel is directed on the solving the water supply problems in Baku and Sumgait as well as irrigation of the northern zone of Azerbaijan.