The Caspian Sea, being a closed-water basin, has limited self-restoration capabilities. Therefore, the strictest ecological standards should be applied in the region, Konul Ahmadsoy, a senior specialistat the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry of Azerbaijan, said at the IADC Drilling Caspian 2025 conference and exhibition in Baku, Report informs.

Ahmadsoy stated that specialists in Azerbaijan apply especially careful approaches during their operations.

"Operators sometimes cite standards or technologies used in the North Sea, Mexico, or the Persian Gulf. However, the Caspian is a completely different case. The Caspian has a unique endemic and biodiverse environment. It is a closed-water basin, and methods applied in open seas and oceans don't always align it. As a closed-water basin, its self-restoration capabilities are limited. Additionally, years of active oil and gas production have caused significant damage. Production here began long before environmental protection was a consideration, and the risks of these processes were fully understood," the ministry official noted," the ministry official noted.

Ahmadsoy emphasized the ministry's commitment to implementing the best international practices and the strictest environmental standards in the region, aiming to make Caspian projects a model for the world: "This principle is crucial not only for the sea but also fo

r the land. Unfortunately, thousands of hectares of land on the Absheron Peninsula and the lower reaches of the Kura and Araz rivers are polluted with oil products. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach. Therefore, the Caspian region needs special attention and care. Our goal is clear: we must achieve production results within environmental limitations while allowing nature to recover."