Jordan signs deal to implement phase 1 of Red -Dead project

AMMAN — Jordan on Monday signed a technical cooperation agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to initiate phase 1 of the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project (Red-Dead). 

In the framework of the agreement, three studies will be conducted in terms of economic and financial analysis as well as environmental and social impact by EIB, an EU long-term lending institution, in cooperation with AFD, a public financial institution that implements French policy to combat poverty and promote sustainable development, according to a press statement.

The Red -Dead project is part of a landmark regional water sharing initiative between Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Israel. It aims to produce desalinated water from the Red Sea for selling to Israel and Jordan, while releasing water by Israel from Lake Tiberias for selling to Jordan, the statement said.

The project aims to satisfy the current and future needs for domestic water supply in Jordan, enable economic growth and adapt to the impact of climate change on water resources, the statement added.

Red-Dead project comprises of an intake facility and desalination plant near Red Sea, and a brine pipeline connecting the desalination plant to the Dead Sea.

It is expected to produce 65 million cubic metres per year of desalinated water for Aqaba and Israeli city Eilat, and discharge of up to 235 million cubic metres per year of mixed brine and seawater to the Dead Sea.

The large number of refugees in the region will also benefit from the project, as it will provide an increased water supply to Jordan and neighbouring countries, according to the press statement.

“This technical cooperation is an important milestone for the success of the Phase 1 of the Red Sea-Dead Sea project", stated the EIB Vice President Dario Scannapieco. 

“The water sector is a key priority for EIB in the Mediterranean countries. So in the context of the urgent need for potable water in Jordan, this is important to develop a secure and potential water supply for Jordan and the region while saving the Dead Sea from environmental degradation,” he added.

The technical operation of the project is funded by an EU grant provided through the Neighbourhood Investment Facility , which aims to support partner countries in the European Union’s eastern and southern neighbourhoods.

This technical assistance agreement follows previous and ongoing technical cooperation with France since 2008 in preparation for the project.