From the Red Sea to Amman: Jordan's major desalination project to reach water resilience
Discussion details
Euronews, 23-03-2025.- The Road to Green takes you to Jordan, where the European Union, the European Investment Bank and development agencies are playing a crucial role in supporting one of the most water-deprived countries in the world towards water resilience.
Freshwater in Jordan depends on limited river resources and overexploited underground aquifers. Population growth and climate change are exacerbating the issue.
The EU is one of the main donors to Jordan's water sector reform, mainly in the form of blending grants with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and implementing agencies such as Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and KfW.
Major financial needs
The EIB has mobilised a loan of €400 million over 30 years to improve the availability of water in Jordan. This loan benefits from risk coverage provided by the European Union.
In the famous Jordan Valley, the EU, EIB and AFD have co-financed the Wadi Al Arab II drinking water plant project, capable of producing and sending 30 million cubic metres of water to the northern regions which are currently hosting hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees.
In recent decades, the rapid growth of Jordan's population, combined with the large influx of Palestinian, Iraki and Syrian refugees, has increased the pressure on these resources.
Strategic support
Water for the Wadi Al Arab II plant is drawn from the King Abdullah Canal, one of the country's few watercourses, part of which KfW is helping to renovate to limit leaks.
It is estimated that half the water supplied to urban areas in Jordan is lost, and a large amount is distributed without authorisation.
The EU has also financed major water treatment projects to enable water to be reused for agricultural purposes. The EU is co-financing the creation of six treatment plants in Balqa, Madaba, Irbid West, Ramtha, Ghabawi and Azraq.
Game-changing desalination project
The EU is also one of the main backers of the mega-project dubbed Aqaba-Amman. It aims at extracting and desalinating water from the Red Sea in Aqaba, and transporting it 450 kilometres north to the capital Amman.
The project, estimated to cost more than €4 billion, is expected to increase the country's drinking water supply by around 60%. A consortium led by two French companies won the tender. The works could start in 2026.
The EU is contributing €97 million in grants combined with €300 million in loans from the EIB. Negotiations are ongoing for an additional loan to cover part of the private sector equity.
The EU has overseen studies to ensure that the environmental impact of the project is reduced. These solutions include minimizing the disturbance on the seabed, capping emissions and generating part of the energy needed from solar power.
According to the head of the EU delegation in Amman, Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, the Europeans could draw inspiration from such partnership. It is estimated that drought costs the European Union between €2 and €9 billion a year.
More information:
Log in with your EU Login account to post or comment on the platform.