KOICA signs agreement with Water Ministry to fund network upgrade in Karak region

AMMAN — The Water Ministry and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to fund a project improving and upgrading water networks in Karak’s Faqou area at a value of $9.27 million.

Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abul Saud signed the MoU with Country Director of KOICA Jordan Office Kim Hyojin, in the presence of senior officials from the ministry and Karak Governorate. 

Abul Saud pointed to the challenges Jordan’s water sector faces, which have been amplified by the Syrian refugee and coronavirus crises. He called for support for water-scarce countries that host refugees, especially in the current exceptional circumstances. 

The minister also highlighted efforts exerted within the water sector to manage water sources in spite of limitations. Jordan is one of the countries “that most efficiently uses treated water as a new source for economic purposes”, he said.

Moreover, Abul Saud reviewed Jordan’s plans to integrate alternative energy sources into water facility operations and adopt energy efficiency programmes. He commended Korea’s continued support to the Kingdom and the two nations’ ongoing cooperation. 

Abul Saud voiced the government’s appreciation for the support to the water sector, especially as the Faqou project is 100 per cent funded by KOICA through a grant that covers studies, implementation and oversight.

The project aims to reduce water loss by installing main- and sub-networks to serve more than 12,000 citizens in the area. 

It also aims at building a modern water system with supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) to track and monitor water pumping remotely and limit water loss, the ministry said, noting that studies and the initial phases of the project are expected to commence in the third quarter of 2021.

For her part, Hyojin expressed South Korea’s appreciation for Jordan’s humanitarian role, led by His Majesty King Abdullah, and the government’s efforts to support refugees and measures to deal with the coronavirus crisis.

She stressed the need for continuous cooperation to find solutions for water scarcity and other challenges facing the Kingdom in the water field.