The Desalination Facility for the Gaza Strip
Context and objectives
The construction of a 100 million cubic metre desalination facility and distribution system on the Gaza strip will help to address the major water deficit for a population of 2 million.
The Desalination Facility for the Gaza Strip project is a landmark operation consisting of three integrated projects on the Gaza Strip: the construction of a 55 million cubic metre desalination Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plant, to be increased to 100 million cubic metre capacity; a North-South conveyance system; and a Non-Revenue Water reduction project.
The project will help to address the major water deficit for a population of over 2 million people. It is also part of a broader Palestinian Water Programme in Gaza, which aims to address the water crisis on the Gaza Strip, where 95% of the water is undrinkable due to the over-pumping of the Coastal Aquifer, the only available water source in the region.
The project is a concrete response to the needs of 2 million citizens living on the Southern shores of the Mediterranean. Furthermore, it will help reduce the pollution of the Mediterranean, by preventing the collapse of the Coastal Aquifer and supporting political stability in the region by tackling water scarcity.
The creation of this desalination facility and distribution system will foster job creation and sustainable, economic development in this highly-populated region.
Location
Key figures
Duration:
2018-2022
Beneficiaries:
2M+
Total cost:
€562M
Capacity of the plant
100M m3
Financial contribution
Arab Gulf States – The consortium led by the Islamic Development Bank pledged 50% of funds required for project
European Commission – €70 million
France – €10 million
Algeria – €1.5 million
Spain – €1 million
Promoter
Beneficiaries
- The population of Gaza
- Neighbouring countries
- The Eastern Mediterranean region in general
Key actions
The Desalination Facility for the Gaza Strip is a landmark operation consisting of three integrated projects:
Construction of a seawater desalination plant with an initial capacity of 55 million cubic metres, which will be increased to an overall capacity of 100 million cubic metres.
Development of a North-South carrier conveyance system that facilitates the distribution of fresh water throughout the Gaza Strip and which will also dramatically reduce water loss.
Implementation of a non-revenue water reduction component to enhance efficiency system-wide and reduce water loss.
Expected results
More than 2 million people will have access to adequate fresh water once the project is completed.
The project will help regenerate the only fresh water source in Gaza, which is the Coastal Aquifer that also runs underneath neighbouring countries.
The project will help reduce pollution in the Eastern Mediterranean as part of a broader programme that includes the development of wastewater treatment facilities.
As the largest infrastructure project to be built in Gaza to date, the construction and subsequent operation of the desalination facility and the conveyance system will offer a substantial opportunity for job creation.
