Major desalination project in Jordan receives a financial boost from the Netherlands
With less than 100 cubic metres of water per person per year, Jordan is implementing sustainable water solutions against water scarcity. The Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project intends to enhance water supply across Jordan by desalinating water from the Red Sea.
In a reaffirmation of its long-standing commitment to Jordan’s water security, the Netherlands has committed a EUR 31 million grant to help secure the completion of this large infrastructure project. Invest International is the implementing partner for the Dutch grant and the European Investment Bank (EIB) will manage it through its Water Sector Fund.
Fresh water for Jordan
The Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project, one of the largest desalination projects in the world, is being built in Jordan to create a sustainable source of drinking water across the nation. The project entails extracting seawater from the Gulf of Aqaba in the south, which is connected to the Red Sea, desalinating it through reverse osmosis, and transporting it approximately 450 kilometres north to the capital, Amman, and its surrounding area. To minimise its environmental impact, the sea water will be retrieved from below surface levels, avoiding disruptions to marine life. Photovoltaic fields will generate the energy required to power the desalination plant and pump the water.
The project is designed to supply 300 million cubic metres of potable water per year, equivalent to meet the demand of about four million people. This sustainable resource, expected to be in place by the end of 2028, will reduce the pressure on groundwater and surface water, allowing nature to rehabilitate depleted aquifers and maintain the water supply for Jordanians.
Dutch financial support
Underlying its commitment to supporting Jordan’s water security and sustainable development, the Netherlands has pledged a grant of EUR 31 million for the Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project. This substantial contribution will be provided through Invest International, a Dutch state-owned development institution, and managed by EIB’s Water Sector Fund.
The grant was signed last April in the presence of Harry Verweij, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Jordan; Zeina Toukan, Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation; Raed Abu Saud, Jordanian Minister of Water and Irrigation; Charlotte Swart, Senior Investment Advisor at Invest International; and, Suad Farsi, EIB’s Representative in Jordan.
“We are proud to partner the EIB in supporting the Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project through the Water Sector Fund,” said Petra Vernooij, Public Sector Director at Invest International. “This investment is vital in enhancing water security in Jordan and reflects our commitment to tackling global challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions.”
In a recent visit to Aqaba, Ambassador Verweij had the opportunity to visit the Aqaba-Amman project’s intake site and hear about the progress made to date as well as the next steps. “I was glad to visit the site in Aqaba personally to get a good sense of how the intake and desalination plant will be designed, as well as to underscore the Dutch commitment to this vital project for Jordan’s future water security,” said Ambassador Verweij.
