Israel, Jordan and PA sign an Agreement
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12/9/2013
GovXShortDescription
Water pipeline to link the Red Sea
with the Dead Sea
"This is a historic agreement that
realizes a dream of many years and the dream of Herzl. The agreement is of the
highest diplomatic, economic, environmental and strategic importance."
Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority on
Monday afternoon (9 December 2013) signed an agreement on laying a water
pipeline to link the Red Sea with the Dead Sea in Washington DC, at the
headquarters of the World Bank. Regional Cooperation, and
National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom signed for
Israel. Water and Irrigation Minister Hazem Al Nasser signed for Jordan. Water
Authority Minister Dr. Shaddad Attili signed for the Palestinian
Authority.
The pipeline will be 180 kilometers long and will pass through
Jordanian territory. It will channel 100 million cubic meters of water per annum
northward from the Red Sea and will cost an estimated $300-400 million. A BOT
tender for the project will be published in 2014. The pipeline will take an
estimated three years to complete. The inflow of water from the Red Sea will
slow the drying up of the Dead Sea and its concomitant negative
effects.
Approximately 200 million cubic meters of water will be drawn
per annum. Around 80 million cubic meters will be desalinated at a facility to
be built in Aqaba facility with Israel receiving 30-50 million cubic meters of
water for the Arava region and Eilat, and with Jordan receiving 30 million cubic
meters of water for use in the south. Israel will also sell Jordan another 50
million cubic meters of water from the Kinneret for use in the
north.
Minister Shalom said, "This is a historic agreement that realizes
a dream of many years and the dream of Herzl. The agreement is of the highest
diplomatic, economic, environmental and strategic importance." He added, "I am
pleased that an investment of years has reached its hoped-for conclusion and
will benefit Israel and the residents of the region as a whole. The other goals
of this project are the generation of electricity by utilizing the difference in
elevation between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea and the development of tourism
infrastructures."
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The Dead Sea
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