Agreement signed to renovate part of King Abdullah Canal

AMMAN — Water Minister Mohammed Najjar and German Development Bank (KfW) Country Director Jordan Mark Schwiete on Monday signed a loan agreement worth 115 million euros to finance the implementation of three phases of a climate protection project related to the water sector, energy and renewable energy efficiency.  

The agreement aims to renovate 65 kilometres of the northern part of the King Abdullah Canal. This project comes as part of the ministry's efforts to reduce water loss and increase the efficiency of water resources, according to a ministry statement.

Najjar said that the water sector administration, in cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, exerts great efforts to bring more international assistance and grants to implement new water and sanitation projects.

He added that such assistance will be directed to increase the level and efficiency of water and sanitation services provided to citizens in the north in response to “exceptional and increasing” water challenges.

The minister said that the loan will fund allocate 45 million euros for the third phase, 30 million euros for the fifth phase and 40 million euros for the sixth phase, to be provided by KfW.

Najjar noted that the loan also seeks to reduce water loss and water thefts to save around 10 million cubic meters of water annually. This, in return, will reflect on increasing water supplies to 300,000 citizens in a bid to accomplish the ministry's goal to reduce water loss, lower energy costs and adapt to climate change. 

The minister added that the project would also provide additional quantities of water for agriculture in the Jordan Valley and for drinking in several regions of the Kingdom. The project would improve the supply in all these areas and reduce the rate of loss, he said.

Najjar praised Germany’s support through KfW and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), expressing appreciation for the government and people of Germany.

He also stressed that the support received by the water sector in the Kingdom will clearly contribute to boosting the ministry's plans to sustain and operate water sources to meet various challenges.