Khaberni - The "National Carrier" is considered the largest infrastructure project for desalination and water transportation in the history of Jordan. It aims to desalinate 300 million cubic meters annually from the Red Sea waters in Aqaba in the south and transport them to the capital, Amman, and other provinces through pipes extending over 450 km, which will provide a strategic solution to water scarcity, covering 40% of drinking needs.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, the Jordanian Minister of Water and Irrigation, Raed Abu Saoud, said that this project is the largest of its kind in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which will enable it to achieve a good level of water self-sufficiency; ensuring comprehensive economic development.
Why is Jordan betting on the "National Carrier" project to solve the water crisis?
The project will contribute to improving supply to citizens in all regions of Jordan from one to three days a week, and increase the amount of water per person from 60 cubic meters annually to 110 cubic meters annually, meaning that this project will secure an increase of 40% in water supply, providing a more sustainable source for drinking water.
The "National Carrier" is the main cornerstone in securing sustainable water sources to find solutions to the water challenges faced by Jordan, where the project will provide 300 million cubic meters annually, which is three times what is secured from the "Disi water conveyance" project (launched in 2013).
This volume equals the total storage capacities in the main dams, but there is a need to think about other future projects to keep pace with urban developments and population growth, including providing sustainable solutions to water shortages in Jordan by relying on a renewable source like Red Sea water, and turning challenges, especially climatic ones, into sustainable developmental opportunities.
The project will provide 200 million cubic meters of treated water after its use by citizens, contributing additional quantities to the water balance for agricultural and industrial uses, alongside the direction towards innovative solutions such as underground dams, enhancing usage efficiency and increasing water awareness and protection of resources and increasing water harvesting through the implementation of 10 thousand collective wells for rainwater in the southern provinces and others.
The project will also contribute to relieving groundwater basins that have been depleted due to climate change and excessive pumping, which will allow their recovery over the coming years, to provide water for future generations.
The project is proceeding as planned, and it is expected to start implementation during the summer of the current year 2026, to begin pumping water by the end of 2030. It will be distributed fairly in all areas and provinces of the kingdom, which will remove the constraints affecting industrial, agricultural, tourism, and investment activities, support the continuity of all vital sectors, and ensure reliability of water supply in the medium and long term, in addition to stimulating and revitalizing the national economy through job opportunities that the project will provide and enhancing water supply efficiency.
How is Jordan currently facing the big water crisis?
Two years ago, the Jordanian water sector launched a plan for reform and restructuring of the water tariff, which is ongoing until 2029, and is a fair, transparent, and clear plan that considered the segments with the least water consumption to ensure social stability and provide water at a reasonable price for citizens.
The water sector's debt has reached about 4 billion dinars, accounting for 12% of the country's total public debt. Nevertheless, during 16 months of arduous work during the National Carrier project negotiations, the cost per cubic meter was reduced from 3 dollars to 2.7 dollars.
We have also succeeded in achieving significant accomplishments in reducing water loss by 10% to reach 42.3%, which is a significant achievement in light of water challenges.
However, with increasing energy and production costs, there will be a future increase so that it will be gradual, as the higher the consumption, the higher the value of the bill will be while continuing to protect the lower consumption segments.
What challenges does the "National Carrier" project face?
The National Carrier project suffices the needs and covers a large part of the annual water deficit in Jordan, which is about 450 million cubic meters until 2040, but it is important to think about other projects in the coming years within the plans and scenarios implemented by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.
Although it is one of the largest desalination projects globally, the project faces challenges that have been studied precisely, especially since it combines several strategic pillars represented in desalinating 300 million cubic meters annually, with the challenge of achieving the highest environmental conditions to preserve marine life in the Red Sea.
In addition to the challenge of pumping from sea level to heights exceeding 1100 meters above sea level through a huge pipe with a diameter of 2.2 meters for a distance of 450 km, and relying on renewable energy by 30% with a capacity of 300 gigawatts annually.
Nevertheless, there is a clear government plan for risk management, through which scenarios and solutions for all challenges have been devised under regional conditions, emphasizing that the project is a national priority, and all obstacles have been overcome, and guarantees for safe implementation and minimizing financial risks and others have been secured.
What is the cost of the "National Carrier" project? And what are its economic impacts?
This project is considered a strategic long-term investment and not just a service project in a country among the most water-poor. It is considered the most economically feasible, as it will secure sustainable water supplies and reduce costs on different sectors and support economic growth and investment. The economic return does not only include profits but also includes preventing future economic losses in a vital sector like water.
The capital cost of the project currently amounts to 4.3 billion dollars, and it will be implemented jointly between the public and private sectors, with full ownership reverting to the government after 26 years.
The project's cost is expected to be distributed across financing from 29 international institutions valued at 660 million dollars, in addition to 722 million dollars from the government treasury, and the contribution of Jordanian banks valued at 1.1 billion dollars, alongside a 15% contribution from the Social Security.
