EIB supports water infrastructure improvement project in Jordan

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has allowed a loan of $54m (JOD 38m) for the Wadi Al-Arab Water System II project in Jordan.

The project represents a high priority water supply infrastructure investment, which is expected to better the availability of drinking water for the increasing population in the Northern Governorates.

Large number of Syrian refugees has resulted in increased demands for potable water in the area.

This project is aligned with the National Water Strategy in the country and the EIB’s External Lending Mandate.

EIB has co-financed the water project along with Agence Française de Développement and the EU Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF).

The EIB funding will support a part of the project, enabling treatment and transportation of 30 million m³/year of fresh water from the King Abdullah Canal (KAC) in the Northern Jordan valley to the Zabda Reservoir which serves the Northern Governorate of Irbid.

The capital will be used for construction of a raw water intake from the KAC, a new water treatment plant, pumping stations, and a 25.6km transmission pipeline which will be used to transport the clean water from the water treatment facility to the Zabda Reservoir.

This part of the project is expected to be implemented over the period 2015-2018.

EIB vice-president Dario Scannapieco said: "The Wadi Al-Arab Water System II project will secure reliable and improved access to drinking water which is also beneficial for health, the commercial sector and thus for economic development and social stability in Jordan.

"The EIB is therefore supporting the Government’s efforts to bridge the drinking water availability gap in a water-stressed country."