Amman, Jan. 27 (Petra) – Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud met with the World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, Ousmane Dione, on Monday to discuss shared water challenges and seek increased support for water harvesting initiatives and private sector engagement.

During the meeting, Abu Saud highlighted Jordan’s pressing water challenges, including drought, climate change, and declining rainfall. He commended the Jordanian water administration for its global and regional distinction in managing scarce water resources efficiently and responsibly, adhering to international quality standards.

The minister emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships to advance water management projects, noting progress in reducing network losses and curbing water theft. These efforts, he said, have saved millions of cubic meters of water, now allocated for drinking purposes.

Abu Saud outlined the government’s commitment to enhancing the water sector under the economic modernization vision. He detailed strategic initiatives, such as reducing water loss, combating encroachments, expanding water harvesting projects, increasing dam storage capacity, promoting water awareness, improving usage efficiency, and completing the national carrier project. He described the latter as a critical venture for achieving national water security.

Additionally, the minister called for practical solutions to address shared water issues in the region, stressing the need for the World Bank’s support for regional projects to secure countries’ water rights. He also proposed the establishment of new dams, including the Wadi Nakheel Dam and the Tilal Al-Dhahab Dam, to enhance irrigation and drinking water supplies. Jordan’s achievements in water reuse were also highlighted as a model for the region.

Abu Saud expressed the sector’s determination to expand the Al-Khirbeh Al-Samra wastewater treatment plant and build new facilities to handle increasing demand. He expressed hope for the World Bank’s continued support in advancing the national carrier project and other vital initiatives.

For his part, Dione affirmed the Bank’s readiness to assist Jordan in building new dams, enhancing storage capacity, addressing shared water issues, and supporting wastewater treatment and reuse projects. He also praised Jordan’s efforts in water management and sanitation.

//Petra// AO
27/01/2025 15:22:03