Strategic water projects are being developed by Jordan in London Construction and Real Estate

The importance of strategic water projects is a priority for Jordan's water security with future economic growth projects at the London Conference on Economic and Investment Support in the Kingdom scheduled for Feb. 28 in the British capital.

For Jordan, the second poorest country in the world, its current priority is to go ahead with desalination projects as a sustainable solution to its water deficit dilemma amid other financial challenges, to save the country from a foreseeable water crisis if the solutions are not rushed as soon as possible.

A government source, who asked not to be identified, told Al-Ghad that Jordan will launch five major strategic water projects during the London conference, in which representatives from the seven major donor countries, including Jordan, Red in Aqaba.

The source pointed to Jordan's intention to implement all the strategic water projects to be launched during the conference, according to the BOT system at an estimated cost of KD 1.5 billion, amid expectations of completion in 2022.

He pointed out that Jordan will confirm its priority in proceeding with water desalination projects, first and foremost to accelerate the work of the Jordan National Red Sea Water Desalination Project in Aqaba to repay part of the Kingdom's water deficit amid the Israeli slowdown, delay and reluctance to proceed under international agreements related to the Bahrain Red Sea (Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority).

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation, according to an earlier statement by its Minister Raed Abu Al-Saud, announced its intention to move towards the national Red Sea water desalination project, while the Kingdom's solutions to securing the necessary water for the Jordanians have no available options.

The project will initially provide about 30 million cubic meters of the same obstacle, along with about 70 million distributed to the rest of the Kingdom. The project is planned to be built on Jordanian land and within the full Jordanian sovereignty.

The international community is concerned about Jordan's priorities for securing the necessary drinking water, which will only be resolved through the National Water Desalination Project in Aqaba, while Israel has taken no step forward in accelerating the work of the Bahrain Transmission Project, Since 2005.

The Bahrain Transporter project was one of Jordan's major strategic options to provide alternative solutions to secure the required water supply amidst the country's large population growth due to the influx of Syrian, Iraqi and other refugees, increasing demand for scarce water.

Within the framework of the water projects proposed in accordance with the strategy of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, which is to be launched during the London conference, and with the aim of mobilizing the support of international donor countries and investors, the same source explained that Jordan will present the saline groundwater desalination project in the deep wells of Jordan with a production capacity of 10-15 million cubic meters per year .

In addition, Jordan will focus on launching a project to reduce water losses in Amman, in addition to the additional expansion project of Al Kharba Samra plant to accommodate an additional 100,000 cubic meters. The total capacity of the plant is expected to increase from 365 to 465,000 cubic meters per day.

The source pointed to the importance of continuing the plan to expand Al-Kharbet Al Samra plant, which the Ministry of Water announced at an estimated cost of $ 200 million to raise the station's total capacity, especially as it achieved high levels due to the increasing growth in the quantities of wastewater resulting from the uses of the population of those areas Which is classified as one of the most densely populated areas in the Kingdom.

The plan comes after the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), funded by the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), delivered its work to the ministry. The expansion project of the Khorba Samra plant, which was completed on 19 October 2015, To be completed during the grant period between 2011 and 2016.

The importance of the project by expanding the capacity of the plant has become important to remedy the effects of the Syrian asylum, which is to increase the water consumption within the governorate and thus increase the quantities of wastewater that reaches the Samra experience.

The wastewater treatment plant in Kharbet Al Samra, which treats more than 70% of the wastewater connected to the network in the capital and Zarqa governorates, is one of the most advanced plants in the world. Wastewater is treated according to the latest advanced technologies to produce water suitable for irrigation, For the purposes of restricted cultivation and reuse in the Jordan Valley areas and other industrial uses.

In addition to these projects, Jordan will also focus on the wastewater transfer project for the Ghbawi landfill.

The water sector strategy for the years 2019-2025 aims to bridge the gap between demand and availability of water resources by more than 15%, and develop the available ones to increase the per capita share of potable water.

As well as the implementation of projects that provide water resources with a capacity of about 180 million cubic meters, and increase the amount of treated water in the sewage and reuse plants currently from 116 million cubic meters for the purposes of restricted agriculture to reach 240 million cubic meters by 2025 and the implementation of pilot development projects through cultivation Fodder that provides jobs for the children of the regions and achieves economic returns.