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— Project is scheduled for completion in about 4 years, water pumping to start in late 2030
— Project includes desalination plant, 450-kilometre water transmission network, solar power plant
AMMAN — Construction on the National Water Carrier Project is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026 after the completion of the final agreements required before financial close, the project's technical director, Ahmed Smadi, said on Sunday.
Speaking to Al Mamlaka TV, Smadi said that the project is in the final stage of preparing the agreements needed to reach financial close, paving the way for construction to start.
The project is expected to take about four years to complete, with water pumping scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2030, he said.
Addressing criticism over the project's increased cost, Smadi said comparisons between the 2016 estimate and the current price tag are misleading because the project's scope has changed substantially.
The original proposal envisioned only a water conveyance pipeline linking southern and northern Jordan, while the current design includes a desalination plant with an annual capacity of 300 million cubic meters, a water transmission network, and a solar power plant, he said.
The desalination facility is expected to supply about 40 per cent of Jordan's drinking water needs, Samadi said, adding that the project has expanded in phases, from an initial planned capacity of 100 million cubic metres a year to 150 million cubic metres before reaching its current design capacity of 300 million cubic metres.
He attributed the higher cost to the expansion of the project's components and the global increase in the prices of raw materials, steel, transportation, energy and other costs driven by inflation.
The addition of a solar power plant was made to meet the environmental requirements of international donors and lenders by reducing carbon emissions, Samadi said. He added that the desalination plant will rely on water from the Red Sea, providing a “more secure and sustainable source than Jordan's existing freshwater resources.”
The project's current cost estimate is based on the final engineering design and updated bids from contractors and service providers, reflecting prevailing prices for construction materials, transportation and fuel, he said.
The final cost could still rise or fall depending on inflation, geopolitical developments, energy prices and global shipping costs.
With an estimated capital cost of around $5.8 billion, the National Water Carrier Project is the largest water infrastructure project in Jordan's history. It is financed by 29 international financial institutions, with the Jordanian Treasury contributing $722 million, local banks providing nearly $1.1 billion, and the Social Security Investment Fund financing 15 per cent of the project to reduce financing costs and spread the financial burden over time.
The government signed in April the final technical and legal agreement for the Aqaba–Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project (the National Water Carrier).
The final agreement follows 16 months of intensive government negotiations with relevant stakeholders aimed at optimizing financing terms, securing the best possible pricing, and refining the project's engineering and technical specifications.
The National Water Carrier is a world-first strategic initiative that integrates several pillars: the desalination of 300 million cubic metres (mcm) of seawater annually, pumping systems capable of lifting water to elevations of 1,100 metres above sea level via a 450-kilometre pipeline network, and a heavy reliance on eco-friendly, cutting-edge renewable energy technologies.
Set to provide approximately 40 per cent of the Kingdom's drinking water needs, the project is expected to begin operations in 2030, serving as a vital cornerstone for national water security.
The 300 mcm annual output is nearly equal to the total capacity of all dams in the Kingdom and triple the production of the Disi project.
It will increase the Kingdom’s water supply by 40 per cent, effectively doubling the annual per capita share from 60 to 110 cubic metres.
Furthermore, it will increase the frequency of water supply from one day to three days per week across all governorates.
