Latest news with #NationalWaterCarrierProject
Ammon
17-05-2025
- Business
- Ammon
Minister: Water shortage threatens tourism, industry, and agriculture sectors
Ammon News - Minister of Water and Irrigation, Raed Abu Soud, said Jordan faces "major" challenges in the water sector, adding that the annual per capita share does not exceed 60 cubic meters, one of the "lowest shares" globally, effectively making Jordan the world's most water-poor country. Abu Soud said the ministry is working on two parallel tracks to ensure Jordan's water security, indicating that the first is implementing the National Water Carrier Project, and the second aims to reduce losses and improve "efficiency" of networks using modern technologies. The minister's remarks came during a dialogue session held recently by the Jordan Economic Forum (JEF) to discuss challenges facing the Kingdom's water sector. According to a JEF statement issued Saturday, Abu Soud noted the National Water Carrier Project is one of the "largest strategic" enterprises in the Kingdom's history and is the cornerstone of "sustainable" water supply in the coming years. The project, he noted, will provide approximately 300 million cubic meters annually, which would make a fundamental difference in meeting needs of citizens and economic sectors. The minister indicated that water issue is "no longer simply a service, but rather a national security issue." If the per capita share falls below 30 cubic meters annually and the situation continues unchanged, it would have significant repercussions on all sectors, mainly tourism, industry, and agriculture sectors, he pointed out. During the session, moderated by JEF's Board Member Malak Oqili, the minister said tourism will be one of the most affected sectors, which would impact its "competitiveness" due to its need for more water that will then increase the operating costs in this industry. In the industrial sector, the minister stated that the increased cost of industrial water will place additional burdens on factories and lead to "higher" production costs, which could weaken exports competitiveness. As for the agricultural sector, he noted the decreasing water supply threatens to shrink agricultural areas and reduce production. Regarding challenges of outdated networks and modern technology, Abu Soud said the ministry is working to reduce the loss rate in networks that are suffering from deterioration, as some fixtures are more than fifty years old. Abu Soud stated the ministry aims to reduce water loss by 2% annually, equivalent to approximately 5 million cubic meters per year. The minister noted this goal is being fulfilled by replacing water networks, detecting leaks early, and controlling violations.
Jordan News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
Cabinet Approves €112 Million in Strategic Projects with Italy and Global Partners - Jordan News
Cabinet Approves €112 Million in Strategic Projects with Italy and Global Partners The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a key agreement with the Government of Italy and a financial agreement with the Italian Development Bank to support the National Water Carrier Project. The agreement includes a soft loan worth €50 million and a €2 million grant. اضافة اعلان This move is part of the Kingdom's strategic push to secure long-term water sustainability. The funding will help advance the Aqaba-Amman National Water Carrier a flagship infrastructure project that will supply 300 million cubic meters of desalinated drinking water annually. The project is central to the nation's response to its severe water scarcity and aims to boost supply across all governorates. The initiative is a pillar of the Economic Modernization Vision and represents the most ambitious national effort yet to confront water poverty head-on. In parallel, the Cabinet approved an amended agreement to move forward with the Northeast Balqa Wastewater Project, backed by €60 million in funding from the French Development Agency. The project will replace the existing Baqaa treatment plant with a new, state-of-the-art facility located 2 km from the King Talal Dam. It will also eliminate the Ain Al-Basha station, streamlining operations with a gravity-fed pipeline to the new site. The new plant will significantly improve sanitation infrastructure and environmental outcomes in the region. With an initial treatment capacity of 36,000 cubic meters per day expandable to 54,000 the project is designed to grow with demand. All required environmental, technical, and regulatory approvals have been secured. Tendering has been split into two packages, with both now through the prequalification and bid-opening phases. The project is moving toward contract awarding. The Cabinet also gave the green light to a new food security and inclusive growth project, developed in partnership with the Italian government. The program aims to empower small farmers, improve local food production quality, and promote sustainable agricultural systems. It aligns with the Economic Modernization Vision's high-value industries pillar and supports the national food security strategy (2021–2030), the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, and other national plans. Key interventions include: * Technical and financial support to rural farmers to enhance productivity and quality * Training on modern farming techniques, business skills, and sustainability * Introduction of agricultural machinery to reduce labor intensity * Empowering rural women through small-scale food manufacturing initiatives * Establishing cold storage and waste processing units to reduce loss and improve quality * Expanding market access for smallholder farmers * Promoting circular practices and efficient resource use to minimize environmental impact The program targets smallholders, rural women, seasonal farmworkers, and members of agricultural cooperatives aiming to boost job creation, reduce poverty, and strengthen rural communities against economic and climate challenges. In the environmental space, the Cabinet approved a partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to launch Jordan's Circular Solutions Project. The initiative will align with global strategies to combat plastic pollution by banning certain single-use products, promoting sustainable packaging, and supporting SMEs developing eco-friendly packaging solutions. It will also push for higher recycled content in plastic products in line with global standards. The project will focus on environmentally impacted cities and will run for 60 months, beginning at the end of June 2025 and concluding in 2030. The Cabinet further approved an agreement with the European Union for the "Partnership Implementation Facility – Phase II" program, aimed at enhancing public sector effectiveness in executing key reform and partnership priorities with the EU. It will also support policy development in areas like green and digital economy growth and defense cooperation with the Jordan Armed Forces. To strengthen exports, the Cabinet extended the 75% tariff exemption on horticultural exports through December 31, 2025. This aims to sustain agricultural operations, protect jobs, and enhance Jordan's global market competitiveness. In support of investment, the Cabinet also extended special incentives granted to the Abdali Investment & Development Project for an additional two years. The goal is to accelerate Phase II implementation and attract investors to capitalize on the project's growing potential. Work on Phase II infrastructure began in early 2025. These exemptions will apply to necessary imported goods and services not available locally, provided they meet Jordanian standards, and are subject to Customs Department oversight. On the tax front, the Cabinet approved the settlement of 803 outstanding cases between taxpayers and the Income and Sales Tax Department part of broader efforts to ease the burden on businesses and citizens, encourage compliance, and improve the business climate. To boost employment and entrepreneurship, the Cabinet also approved two agreements with the German government, via the KfW Development Bank, to launch the "Employment Through Entrepreneurship" program. The initiative will introduce a new financing window under the Industrial Development Fund to increase access to capital for SMEs, especially women-led businesses, and support job creation. The program offers investment grants that support business growth and sustainable employment in line with the Economic Modernization Vision. The Cabinet also approved a draft regulation to license domestic cleaning service companies, referring it to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau for processing. This comes following amendments to the Labor Law requiring regulations to organize all aspects of hiring and managing domestic workers, including licensing conditions and ministry oversight. The new regulation aims to regulate the sector and reduce violations. On the international cooperation front, the Cabinet approved a framework agreement with the Republic of Malta to establish a Joint Economic Committee, along with four Memoranda of Understanding in the fields of water, energy, tourism, and archiving. In other decisions, the Cabinet appointed Omar Malhas as Chairman of the Social Security Investment Fund and accepted the resignation of Bilal Al-Hafnawi from the Board of Commissioners of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. Petra
Ammon
14-05-2025
- Business
- Ammon
Cabinet approves €52 million Italian loan, grant to finance national carrier
Ammon News - The Cabinet, in its session held Wednesday, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Jafar Hassan, decided to approve an agreement with Italy, and a financial agreement with the Italian Development Bank, to contribute to financing the national carrier project through a soft loan worth 50 million euros, and a grant worth 2 million euros. The agreement aims to contribute to financing the implementation of Aqaba-Amman National Water Carrier Project for desalination and water transfer, which aims to provide a potable water supply of 300 million cubic meters annually, address the chronic water shortage in the Kingdom, and increase water supplies to all governorates. This agreement comes within the framework of implementing the National Water Carrier Project, a major national strategic project and the most important response to the challenge of water poverty in Jordan and one of the most important projects included in the Economic Modernization Vision.
Jordan Times
27-04-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Managing Jordan's draught: Strategies for a sustainable future
Jordan, one of the most water-scarce countries globally, faces a critical challenge in ensuring water security for its growing population and various needs. With per capita renewable water resources falling much below 90 cubic meters annually, significantly under the 500 cubic meters threshold for severe water scarcity, the nation must adopt urgent comprehensive strategies to manage its water crisis. Several factors contribute to Jordan's water scarcity, such as its arid country, as Jordan receives limited rainfall, most of it evaporates. Also, the influx of refugees, foreign labour, tourism, agriculture and natural population growth have increased demand for water. Furthermore, rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns exacerbate water shortages. Groundwater, accounting for 54 per cent of Jordan's water supply, is being depleted faster than it can be replenished, leading to declining water tables and water quality issues. To address these challenges, Jordan has implemented several strategies, the latest of which the National Water Strategy 2023–2040. This comprehensive plan aims to achieve water security through coordinating the development and management of water, land, irrigation, and related resources, investing in projects like the National Water Carrier Project to transport desalinated water from the Red Sea to various regions, enhancing wastewater treatment facilities to recycle water for agricultural and industrial use and upgrading infrastructure to minimize leaks and unauthorized usage. Given the limitations of conventional water sources, Jordan is exploring deep water aquifers and desalination: Treating seawater to meet domestic and industrial needs, collecting and storing rainwater for various uses and utilising treated wastewater, especially in agriculture, to reduce reliance on freshwater sources. However, agriculture consumes a significant portion of Jordan's water, but not much is done to control exporting water through exporting products like tomatos and cucumber, containing 95 per cent of its weight in water. To enhance water efficiency, urgent measures must be taken. These include regulating the types of agricultural products grown and improving irrigation methods. Promoting hydroponic farming—growing plants without soil using nutrient-rich water solutions—can significantly reduce water consumption while enabling cultivation in limited spaces. Additionally, expanding and financially supporting drip irrigation systems, which deliver water directly to plant roots and minimize evaporation, is crucial. Above all, educating citizens about water conservation is essential, raising public awareness about the importance of saving water and practical ways to do so. However, education alone is not enough. Given the severity of this year's drought, strict enforcement measures must accompany awareness efforts. Fines should be imposed on those who use hoses to wash cars or pavements, or who fail to repair overflowing water tanks, among other violations. Without such action, water distribution during the summer will become even more restricted. Jordan's water crisis demands collective action and stronger international partnerships. Collaboration with organizations like the World Bank and the support of foreign aid have been valuable, and we are grateful for their contributions. However, these efforts alone are not sufficient to meet the scale of the challenge. Jordan must also actively engage in agreements with neighboring countries to manage shared water resources more effectively. So, what are the priorities in draught management? The water conservation strategy must come first and be enforced by law, just as seat belt use is mandated for public safety. The dangers of water scarcity are equally serious, since less water leads to more health risks. Moreover, relying on purchased water tankers is not a sustainable solution; it is costly, the quality is not guaranteed, and it can burden poor families, forcing them to sacrifice access to nutritious food. This procedure is followed by, or ought to be in parallel with, reducing leaks from main pipes, which is in average around a third of our drinking water. Also, address water theft, open waterways and expand on dams storage capacity. Covering dams with plastic balls or floating PV cells can reduce evaporation from dams too. Jordan's water scarcity is a multifaceted issue demanding a holistic approach. Through strategic planning, technological innovation, public engagement, strict draught emergency laws and international collaboration, Jordan aims to secure a sustainable water future for its citizens. Continued efforts and adaptive strategies will be essential in navigating the challenges posed by this pressing draught crisis. No need to wait for establishing committees, start now, not much time is left for summer!
Jordan News
20-04-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
€24.3 Million from European Investment Bank to Reduce Water Loss in Jordan - Jordan News
€24.3 Million from European Investment Bank to Reduce Water Loss in Jordan The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a new loan of €24.3 million as additional financing for a project aimed at reducing water loss and increasing drinking water supply in Jordan. اضافة اعلان According to data from the bank, total financing for the project has now reached €94.5 million, with the new funding adding to the previous €70.2 million loan signed at the end of 2021. The project targets reducing water losses in the agricultural sector and enhancing drinking water supplies, especially in Amman and Irbid, to help address water shortages that hinder agricultural productivity in the Jordan Valley. It also aims to supply water more efficiently and resiliently, in response to climate change, as Jordan is among the countries with the lowest levels of freshwater availability per capita worldwide, amid rising demand and unsustainable use of groundwater. On March 19, 2025, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation signed an agreement with the EIB to support the Bani Kenanah Water Systems Improvement Project (phases 2, 3, and 4), valued at $51 million, to improve water supply services across 25 villages in Bani Kenanah, particularly amid rising demand and the high number of refugees in northern areas. The project includes installing over 630 kilometers of main and secondary pipelines, constructing two water reservoirs, a modern pumping station, household connections, smart meters, and a SCADA control system. Once completed by the end of 2027, it is expected to enable 93% of the target population to receive water through gravity flow, reduce water loss, and boost supply efficiency. In 2024, the EIB signed four financing agreements with the Jordanian government, totaling €497 million, to support vital development projects in health, water security, and climate adaptation, including the National Water Carrier Project between Aqaba and Amman. These agreements included: €47 million for part of the Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Transmission Project (signed on June 6, 2024), aiming to supply 300 million cubic meters of potable water annually to Amman and other provinces. In October 2024, two agreements worth €449.1 million were signed to support water security and climate adaptation projects, focused on reducing non-revenue water, increasing water supplies, and improving sanitation services. A fourth agreement, signed on October 14, 2024, allocated €990,000 to support Jordan's public health sector. This funding aims to strengthen the country's COVID-19 response and prepare the healthcare system for future health crises, boosting its resilience and emergency preparedness. — Al-Mamlaka TV
