Jordan, UAE, Israel ink environment projects deal

AMMAN — Jordan, the UAE and Israel have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to continue feasibility studies for two interconnected projects to establish a water desalination station at the Red Sea (Prosperity Blue), in return for establishing a clean electric power generation plant in Jordan (Prosperity Green).

The MoU, signed on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) held in Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh, only entails the three countries’ intentions for the projects, and does not affect or establish any binding rights or commitments under international law, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Tuesday.

The memo signing comes subsequent to the declaration of intent that the three countries signed on the sidelines of Expo 2020 Dubai on November 22, 2021, with the attendance of John Kerry, US presidential special envoy for climate.

The memo stipulates that progress on the projects is to be realised through assistance and support from relevant international institutions and partners, voluntarily or upon need, provided that all sides agree to prepare plans in conjunction with COP28, to be held in the UAE in November 2023.

The memo was signed by Water Minister Mohammed Najjar, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Al Mheiri and Israeli Minister of Regional Cooperation Issawi Frej.

Last November, the three governments signed a trilateral declaration of intent to embark on the projects’ feasibility study in Dubai.

The clean electric energy generation plant project proposes the creation of a green energy plant outside of Jordan’s national grid with a capacity of 600 kilowatts. This project is to come in to fruition with the help of an Emirati fund.

The second project, which entails establishing a water desalination plant on the Mediterranean, would provide Jordan with 200 million cubic metres of desalinated water annually.