Key facts about Jordan's National Water Carrier Project

Facing ongoing water shortages, the Jordanian government launched the Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project (National Water Carrier Project) to address the country's water needs.

Read more: VIDEO: Jordan signs landmark National Water Carrier project agreement

The project aims to desalinate water from the Red Sea in Aqaba and distribute it across Jordan.

Once operational, the project will produce 300 million cubic meters of potable water annually, enough to serve approximately four million people.

This initiative is crucial to Jordan’s sustainable development efforts, reducing reliance on depleting groundwater and surface water resources.

The National Water Carrier will desalinate Red Sea water and pump 300 million cubic meters annually over 460km to central Jordan by 2029, one of the country’s most densely populated regions.

With an estimated cost of USD 3 billion, the project includes a renewable energy plant to lower the operational costs of desalination and pumping infrastructure. Minister of Water and Irrigation, Raed Abu Al-Saud, highlighted that it is the third-largest project of its kind in the region, following similar initiatives in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Saud also noted that the project will enable Jordan to phase out overused groundwater wells, aiding in the preservation of the nation’s aquifers.

In line with Jordan’s renewable energy strategy, the project integrates clean energy solutions, aiming for 31 percent of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030.