The Jordanian government on Monday said that part of the water produced by its planned Red Sea desalination project will be sold to Israel in return for nearly 50 million cubic metres of drinking water from the Tiberias reservoir annually.
During a press conference, PM Ensour said: “We will sell Israel water at a rate of JD1 per cubic metre and buy from them at a rate of JD0.3 per cubic metre. This process will save us the effort and cost of conveying water from the south to the northern governorates: Irbid, Jerash, Ajloun and Mafraq.”
The Cabinet on Sunday approved a recommendation by its Economic Development Committee to prepare studies and tender documents for the first phase of the project, announcing that it has decided to move ahead with the first phase of a project to desalinate Red Sea water and save the shrinking Dead Sea.
Ensour said this project, the largest undertaken since His Majesty King Abdullah’s accession to the Throne in 1999, is expected to cost around $1 billion and represents a permanent source that will address the water shortage in the Kingdom, which increases by 7 per cent annually.
Minister of Water and Irrigation Hazem Nasser, added that the desalinated water would be sold to citizens at a lower rate compared with the water from the Disi water project.
The plant is expected to have the capacity to desalinate 200 million cubic metres [mcm] of water and generate 400-500 job opportunities for local residents.
The new venture is expected to cost $980 million, Nasser said, adding that the government will secure $300-$400 million in grants.
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