Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Israel on Monday signed a general declaration of intent to negotiate the prospects of a joint energy and water project, according to a Ministry of Water and Irrigation statement.

The declaration, inked at the Expo 2020 Dubai, entails the start of feasibility studies in 2022 for a joint project that would secure Jordan 200 million cubic meters of water annually, said Omar Salameh, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

He explained that the declaration is neither a technical nor a legal agreement, and that the project will not be implemented without Jordan obtaining the said amount of water annually.

Salameh pointed out that the idea of the project stems from Jordan's growing needs for permanent sources of water, indicating that water needs are increasing due to population growth and increased demand by the industrial and agricultural sectors.

He pointed to a limited 'external support' to Jordan which has been shouldering the burden of refugees and the resulting abnormal growth in population for years, pressuring the Kingdom's infrastructure and other services.

Jordan, he indicated, is one of the world's poorest countries in terms of water resources, noting that the water deficit is worsening year after year, and will reach 45 million cubic meters next year in the drinking water sector alone.

On the quantities of water that Jordan currently obtains, Salameh revealed that it receives 35 million cubic meters annually in accordance with the peace treaty with Israel, and an additional 10 million cubic meters that were agreed upon in 2010, in addition to harvesting rainwater and groundwater. He said that the per capita share of water is 80 cubic meters compared to 500 cubic meters global per capita average.

On the National Water Carrier project, Salameh stressed that it is still a 'top priority,' noting that 5 consortiums have been qualified, and the project will be awarded to a consortium in 2022. The amounts committed to the project so far are only $600 million, he added.

The declaration of intent was signed by the Minister of Water and Irrigation Mohammad Najjar, Emirati Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri and Israeli Minister of Energy Karine Elharrar, in the presence of US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and Emirati Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.

Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Israel on Monday signed a general declaration of intent to negotiate the prospects of a joint energy and water project, according to a Ministry of Water and Irrigation statement.

The declaration, inked at the Expo 2020 Dubai, entails the start of feasibility studies in 2022 for a joint project that would secure Jordan 200 million cubic meters of water annually, said Omar Salameh, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

He explained that the declaration is neither a technical nor a legal agreement, and that the project will not be implemented without Jordan obtaining the said amount of water annually.

Salameh pointed out that the idea of the project stems from Jordan's growing needs for permanent sources of water, indicating that water needs are increasing due to population growth and increased demand by the industrial and agricultural sectors.

He pointed to a limited 'external support' to Jordan which has been shouldering the burden of refugees and the resulting abnormal growth in population for years, pressuring the Kingdom's infrastructure and other services.

Jordan, he indicated, is one of the world's poorest countries in terms of water resources, noting that the water deficit is worsening year after year, and will reach 45 million cubic meters next year in the drinking water sector alone.

On the quantities of water that Jordan currently obtains, Salameh revealed that it receives 35 million cubic meters annually in accordance with the peace treaty with Israel, and an additional 10 million cubic meters that were agreed upon in 2010, in addition to harvesting rainwater and groundwater. He said that the per capita share of water is 80 cubic meters compared to 500 cubic meters global per capita average.

On the National Water Carrier project, Salameh stressed that it is still a 'top priority,' noting that 5 consortiums have been qualified, and the project will be awarded to a consortium in 2022. The amounts committed to the project so far are only $600 million, he added.

The declaration of intent was signed by the Minister of Water and Irrigation Mohammad Najjar, Emirati Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri and Israeli Minister of Energy Karine Elharrar, in the presence of US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and Emirati Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.