Latest news with #RaedAbuSoud
Zawya
23-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan, French Development Agency discuss accelerating key water projects
AMMAN — Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud on Thursday met with a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD), led by its Middle East Regional Director Yves Guicquéro, to explore strategies for expediting several vital water sector initiatives. The discussions focused on advancing projects crucial to Jordan's Water Sector Strategy 2023-2040. Abu Soud highlighted the ministry's ongoing efforts to fast-track projects aimed at enhancing services for citizens, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. He pointed to the strategic National Carrier Project, alongside key developments including the Balqa wastewater treatment plant, valued at 75 million euros, and the Madaba wastewater treatment plant and networks, valued at 100 million euros. Other critical projects discussed were Al Sukhna and Qasabat Maan wastewater systems. The minister also referred to a project focused on improving and rehabilitating wells at the Faisal Nursery in Jerash, designed to bolster water supply in the Jerash Governorate. Discussions covered the latest progress on these undertakings, with the minister expressing anticipation for continued constructive cooperation. The AFD delegation provided an overview of the agency's contributions to financing these projects and their current work trajectory. They conveyed their satisfaction with the "constructive and fruitful cooperation" between their team and the Jordanian water sector staff. The AFD representatives stressed the agency's readiness to collaborate and coordinate with Jordan's water sector on all issues aimed at improving water and wastewater services throughout the Kingdom. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Jordan Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Jordan, French Development Agency discuss accelerating key water projects
Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud on Thursday meets with a delegation from the French Development Agency to explore strategies for expediting several vital water sector initiatives (Petra photo) AMMAN — Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud on Thursday met with a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD), led by its Middle East Regional Director Yves Guicquéro, to explore strategies for expediting several vital water sector initiatives. The discussions focused on advancing projects crucial to Jordan's Water Sector Strategy 2023-2040. Abu Soud highlighted the ministry's ongoing efforts to fast-track projects aimed at enhancing services for citizens, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. He pointed to the strategic National Carrier Project, alongside key developments including the Balqa wastewater treatment plant, valued at 75 million euros, and the Madaba wastewater treatment plant and networks, valued at 100 million euros. Other critical projects discussed were Al Sukhna and Qasabat Maan wastewater systems. The minister also referred to a project focused on improving and rehabilitating wells at the Faisal Nursery in Jerash, designed to bolster water supply in the Jerash Governorate. Discussions covered the latest progress on these undertakings, with the minister expressing anticipation for continued constructive cooperation. The AFD delegation provided an overview of the agency's contributions to financing these projects and their current work trajectory. They conveyed their satisfaction with the "constructive and fruitful cooperation" between their team and the Jordanian water sector staff. The AFD representatives stressed the agency's readiness to collaborate and coordinate with Jordan's water sector on all issues aimed at improving water and wastewater services throughout the Kingdom.
Jordan Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Project inaugurated to enhance water supplies to Amman, Zarqa
The Hallabat Water Conveyance Project, funded by the US government, seeks to boost national water supply and expand the capacity to meet growing demand, particularly in Amman and Zarqa, with a total investment of $50 million (File photo) AMMAN — Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud on Wednesday inaugurated the Hallabat Water Conveyance Project, a 'strategic' infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing water supply in Amman and Zarqa. The project, funded by the US government, seeks to boost national water supply and expand the capacity to meet growing demand, particularly in Amman and Zarqa, with a total investment of $50 million, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Abu Soud expressed his gratitude to the US government for its 'generous and continued' support to the water sector, stressing the importance of strategic investments in this field. The minister described the project as 'vital' to enhancing water supply, providing 30 million cubic metres annually through the rehabilitation and drilling of 25 wells in the Hallabat well field. He said that the additional supply will help reduce the water deficit and meet the needs of around 820,000 people in the governorates of Amman and Zarqa. Abu Soud noted that the project will also provide extra quantities to other areas, as part of the ministry's broader efforts under the National Water Strategy to reduce water loss and improve supply. He added that efforts are ongoing to secure new water sources, increase the efficiency of supply and operational systems, and rehabilitate existing resources to ensure additional water reaches most regions across the Kingdom. US Chargé d'Affaires Rohit Nepal stressed the US government's commitment to partnering with Jordan in its pursuit of a more water-secure future, referring to ongoing efforts to enhance Jordan's water security by reducing water loss. The project was completed in a 'record' time of eight months and involved the rehabilitation, drilling, and development of 25 wells in the Hallabat field, Petra said. The venture is considered a 'successful' model of effective emergency response to the challenges of water scarcity in Jordan. It highlights how international partnerships, especially with the US government, along with advanced technology and improved infrastructure, can collectively contribute to meeting citizens' needs and advancing national water security goals, Petra added.
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 Times
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Water Ministry, FAO discuss regional water scarcity initiative
Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity for the Near East and North Africa (NENA) aims to support strategic planning and improve water resource management (Photo courtesy of FAO) AMMAN — Minister of Water Raed Abu Soud and Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Nabil Assaf on Sunday discussed the Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity for the Near East and North Africa (NENA). The initiative aims to support strategic planning and improve water resource management, promote the use of non-conventional water sources, ensure water sustainability, enhance governance in agricultural water use, strengthen the resilience of food systems and water services to climate change, and foster knowledge-sharing through regional cooperation. Abu Soud stressed the initiative's 'importance' in addressing Jordan's water challenges and those facing the broader region, reviewing national efforts to safeguard water sustainability through strategic planning and the search for innovative solutions, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The minister noted that the initiative offers a 'valuable' platform to improve water resource management and planning, promote sustainable water use in agriculture, develop technical capacities, raise awareness, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and the best practices. He added that the ministry, in collaboration with key stakeholders, aims to implement integrated water resource management, strengthen water governance, and improve the flexibility and security of water services. Abu Soud pointed out that the initiative also seeks to introduce modern irrigation and agricultural technologies to advance food security and counter climate change, while reinforcing regional cooperation for sustainable water resource management. Assaf highlighted the critical role of partnerships in confronting regional water scarcity, especially in light of challenges such as climate change, irregular rainfall, and declining water quality, all of which affect food availability across the region. The NENA Region, already naturally exposed to chronic shortage of water, will be exposed in the coming decades to a 'severe' intensification of water scarcity due to several drivers, including demographic growth, tendency to increase food self-sufficiency to reduce vulnerability to import and price volatility, urbanisation expansion, energy demand and overall socio-economic development, according to Per capita fresh water availability, which has already decreased by 66 per cent over the last forty years, will probably decrease by another 50 per cent by 2050. Also, there is an 'alarming' trend observed over last decades showing that the NENA Region is experiencing more frequent, intense and long droughts as a consequence of climate change, the website said. Agriculture, which consumes already more than 85 per cent of available fresh water resources, will face 'strong' challenges in keeping the same water allocation while sustaining food security and rural economy, according to FAO. Countries in the region need to plan strategically their water resources allocation, review their water, food security and energy strategies to ensure that they are aligned with the imperative of making the best use of each single drop of water, the website added.
