JORDAN TO LAUNCH A TENDER FOR DESALINATION PLANT IN AQABA
(ANSAmed) - AMMAN, JANUARY 30 - Officials in Aqaba special
economic zone are expected to float an international tender for
the construction of a water desalination plant within a week,
head of Aqaba water company, Emad Zureikat said today.
The project, the first of its kind in the kingdom, will be
designed to supply the port city with enough potable water to be
used for tourism projects as well as industry use.
"We have finalized all terms of reference for the project
and soon will invite companies bid for the project," said
Zureikat. The need for this project increased after the city was
turned to a special economic zone, leading to high demand on
water, he added.
The plant will be constructed at the southern shores of the
city and will provide Aqaba with 10 million cubic meter of
water. The city is currently relying on a pipeline coming from
Disi aquifer, 65 km north to meet its needs.
In 2000, Jordan turned Aqaba into a special economic zone to
boost tourism and industry in the under utilized port city.
So far, no less than USD11 billion were injected in the city
with investors flocking from the oil rich countries to take a
slice from this investment heaven. Officials expect the city's
population will jump from 100,000 to 300, 000 within less than
ten years.(ANSAmed).
2008-01-30 20:04