Minister of Water and Irrigation, Engineer Riad Abu Saud, signed today, Wednesday, an agreement for the improvement of Bani Kenanah water systems (second, third, and fourth phases) with local Jordanian contractors at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation – Water Authority, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the Water Authority, Engineer Wael Al-Duwairi, European Investment Bank (EIB) representative Mrs. Suad Al-Farsi, and senior water officials. The project is valued at 51 million dollars, funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
اضافة اعلان
The project includes four phases serving 25 villages in the Bani Kenanah district, addressing challenges related to the increasing demand for water, especially in the northern regions, which are heavily populated with refugees.
Engineer Riad Abu Saud emphasized that this project is a priority for the government to improve the services provided to citizens, and it aligns with the government's plans to achieve the economic modernization vision as well as the national water strategy for 2023-2040. He noted that the Ministry of Water is implementing a plan to improve and replace all water lines by 2025 to enhance the efficiency of transmission and distribution lines across all water sources in the Kingdom. This will help reduce water loss, cut energy consumption, and provide self-sustaining water sources for energy.
The minister also mentioned that the ongoing cooperation between the Jordanian government and the European Union has contributed to securing the necessary financing to start implementing the project, which will significantly improve water supply systems in the northern areas, which are heavily impacted by the presence of Syrian refugees, using the latest technologies. The project includes implementing primary and secondary lines to enhance water supply to 25 villages in the district, ensuring that 93% of citizens receive natural flow of water, replacing the old network, and reducing current water losses.
The project components include the implementation of a 700mm diameter transmission line, 15 kilometers long, from the Zubda reservoir to the Bani Kenanah reservoir, along with lines of 150-600mm diameter, 70 kilometers long, and lines ranging from 50-300mm of ductile and polyethylene pipes, covering a total length of 545 kilometers. The project also includes the construction of a 16,000 cubic meter water tank, a 1,000 cubic meter Hibras tank, and a modern pumping station to supply the villages of Sama, Kafr Jais, and Hirma. The project further includes constructing an operations and security building, providing household connections, installing 33 electromagnetic meters, and setting up a SCADA system.
The minister clarified that the implementation of the second, third, and fourth phases will begin after the completion of the first phase (Phase A), valued at approximately 15.5 million dollars, which includes building the Bani Kenanah reservoir, the transmission line, the pumping station, and the operations building to supply the remaining phases (B, C, D). The full project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
In conclusion, the minister called on citizens to cooperate with the execution work to achieve maximum benefits for the community. He also emphasized that the Ministry of Water/Water Authority is committed to improving and developing water services across all regions of the Kingdom. The minister expressed appreciation for the ongoing Jordanian-European cooperation, especially with the European Investment Bank, and thanked the donor countries for their significant support in addressing the urgent challenges faced by the Kingdom, particularly in the water sector.
