Ammon News - The Ministry of Water and Irrigation on Tuesday signed three agreements for a total of 10.34 million euros to finance water feasibility studies and develop agricultural enterprises in the Jordan Valley.

The agreements were signed by Minister Muhammad Najjar and Deputy Director at the German Development Bank (KfW) Sawsan Aruri. Najjar said the finance which is provided as a grant from the German government will be channeled to develop water resources and address climate change effects.

He added that the government will seek additional finance for water projects and will join hands with donors and funding parties to upgrade water supply and resources which have come under pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic and the Syrian refugee crisis.

The minister explained that the first agreement, at a value of 1.5 million euros, will be used to finance feasibility studies for implementing new water projects in the Azraq Basin, as well as construct a new main Al-Azarq to Kho in Zarqa, indicating that the project is expected to cost about 50 million euros.

As for the second agreement at 1.47 million euros, according to Najjar, it will also be used to study the feasibility of developing new water resources by desalinating brackish water in the Jordan Valley with aim of providing households with about 10 million cubic meters of potable water.

The third and last agreement, valued at 7.3 million euros provided through the European Union, is aimed at developing agricultural investments in the Jordan Valley by boosting resilience to climate change, improving water supply and reducing losses.

Deputy Director at the German Development Bank (KfW) Sawsan Aruri stressed the German government's commitment, through its financing arms, to help Jordan address the current exceptional circumstances and water scarcity.

On behalf of the German government, she noted, the KfW finances projects designed to upgrade water supply and services, calling on donor countries to provide assistance to Jordan to meet its growing water needs.

Aruri indicated that the bank has plans and projects to provide more assistance, especially in areas of water resource development, wastewater treatment and the introduction of efficient irrigation systems.