Prime Minister Dr. Jafar Hassan on Tuesday witnessed the signing of the final technical and legal agreement for the National Carrier Project in a step that paves the way for financial close to be reached next July, followed by the start of construction and excavation works in the coming summer.

The project’s capital cost is estimated at approximately $4.3 billion, while the total cost is expected to reach around $5.8 billion, including financing costs.

The final technical and legal agreement came after efforts made by the government over the past 16 months with the relevant parties, aimed at improving financing terms, securing the best possible price, and enhancing the project’s engineering and technical specifications.

The Jordan National Carrier Project is considered the first of its kind globally, as it integrates several strategic pillars. These include desalinating 300 million cubic meters of seawater annually, pumping systems that lift water up to 1,100 meters above sea level through pipelines extending to nearly 450 kilometers, and heavy reliance on renewable energy using advanced, environmentally friendly technologies.

The project is expected to provide around 40% of the Kingdom’s drinking water needs. Water pumping is anticipated to begin in 2030, making it a key contributor to strengthening national water security.

Anually, the project will provide 300 million cubic meters of water, an amount close to the total storage capacity of all the Kingdom’s dams, and nearly three times the output of the Disi Water Conveyance Project.

It will raise the water supply coverage in the Kingdom to 40% of current levels, effectively increasing the annual per capita water share from 60 to 110 cubic meters. The project will also help increase water supply frequency from one day to three days per week across all governorates of the Kingdom.

The final technical and legal agreement also included reducing the water price from about $3 per cubic meter in 2024 to an indicative price estimated at around $2.7 per cubic meters, as negotiations are currently focused on calculating the inflation adjustment formula in order to reach the final financial close.

The government will continue to subsidize water tariffs, noting that the Water Authority’s debt accounts for about 12 percent of total public debt and is expected to rise due to the high capital intensity of strategic water projects.

Over the medium term, the government aims to contain sector debt through expanding efficient water projects, improving wastewater treatment, reducing non-revenue water, and promoting conservation measures.

The project will alleviate pressure on conventional water sources and enhance supply reliability for industrial, agricultural, and economic sectors, ensuring sustainable availability through 2040.

It also includes the development of solar power plants with a capacity of approximately 300 megawatts, covering around 30 percent of the project’s energy requirements.

Implemented under a build-operate-transfer model, ownership of the project will revert to the government 26 years after operations commence. Financing will be secured through a consortium of 29 international donors and financial institutions, with grants totaling $663 million from partners including the United States, the European Union, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, and the Green Climate Fund.

Meridiam will secure approximately $2.9 billion in private sector financing from a consortium of leading international financial institutions, including the World Bank Group, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Islamic Development Bank, Proparco,, the private sector financing arm of the French Development Agency, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Green Climate Fund, and the OPEC Fund for International Development, among others.

The government is allocating $722 million to the project, marking the largest single capital expenditure in the budget, aimed at lowering the cost per cubic meter of water throughout the implementation phase.

A consortium of Jordanian banks, led by Housing Bank, will provide up to $1.1 billion in financing, with participation from the Social Security Investment Fund, which will also hold an equity stake alongside Meridiam.

The National Water Carrier Project is a cornerstone initiative under the Economic Modernization Vision and a top national priority for enhancing long-term water security.

The agreement was signed by Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud and Meridiam Chief Executive Officer Thierry Deau, in the presence of ministers, officials, ambassadors, and representatives of donor agencies and investors.

Prime Minister Dr. Jafar Hassan on Tuesday witnessed the signing of the final technical and legal agreement for the National Carrier Project in a step that paves the way for financial close to be reached next July, followed by the start of construction and excavation works in the coming summer.

The project’s capital cost is estimated at approximately $4.3 billion, while the total cost is expected to reach around $5.8 billion, including financing costs.

The final technical and legal agreement came after efforts made by the government over the past 16 months with the relevant parties, aimed at improving financing terms, securing the best possible price, and enhancing the project’s engineering and technical specifications.

The Jordan National Carrier Project is considered the first of its kind globally, as it integrates several strategic pillars. These include desalinating 300 million cubic meters of seawater annually, pumping systems that lift water up to 1,100 meters above sea level through pipelines extending to nearly 450 kilometers, and heavy reliance on renewable energy using advanced, environmentally friendly technologies.

The project is expected to provide around 40% of the Kingdom’s drinking water needs. Water pumping is anticipated to begin in 2030, making it a key contributor to strengthening national water security.

Anually, the project will provide 300 million cubic meters of water, an amount close to the total storage capacity of all the Kingdom’s dams, and nearly three times the output of the Disi Water Conveyance Project.

It will raise the water supply coverage in the Kingdom to 40% of current levels, effectively increasing the annual per capita water share from 60 to 110 cubic meters. The project will also help increase water supply frequency from one day to three days per week across all governorates of the Kingdom.

The final technical and legal agreement also included reducing the water price from about $3 per cubic meter in 2024 to an indicative price estimated at around $2.7 per cubic meters, as negotiations are currently focused on calculating the inflation adjustment formula in order to reach the final financial close.

The government will continue to subsidize water tariffs, noting that the Water Authority’s debt accounts for about 12 percent of total public debt and is expected to rise due to the high capital intensity of strategic water projects.

Over the medium term, the government aims to contain sector debt through expanding efficient water projects, improving wastewater treatment, reducing non-revenue water, and promoting conservation measures.

The project will alleviate pressure on conventional water sources and enhance supply reliability for industrial, agricultural, and economic sectors, ensuring sustainable availability through 2040.

It also includes the development of solar power plants with a capacity of approximately 300 megawatts, covering around 30 percent of the project’s energy requirements.

Implemented under a build-operate-transfer model, ownership of the project will revert to the government 26 years after operations commence. Financing will be secured through a consortium of 29 international donors and financial institutions, with grants totaling $663 million from partners including the United States, the European Union, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, and the Green Climate Fund.

Meridiam will secure approximately $2.9 billion in private sector financing from a consortium of leading international financial institutions, including the World Bank Group, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Islamic Development Bank, Proparco,, the private sector financing arm of the French Development Agency, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Green Climate Fund, and the OPEC Fund for International Development, among others.

The government is allocating $722 million to the project, marking the largest single capital expenditure in the budget, aimed at lowering the cost per cubic meter of water throughout the implementation phase.

A consortium of Jordanian banks, led by Housing Bank, will provide up to $1.1 billion in financing, with participation from the Social Security Investment Fund, which will also hold an equity stake alongside Meridiam.

The National Water Carrier Project is a cornerstone initiative under the Economic Modernization Vision and a top national priority for enhancing long-term water security.

The agreement was signed by Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud and Meridiam Chief Executive Officer Thierry Deau, in the presence of ministers, officials, ambassadors, and representatives of donor agencies and investors.