Al-Wahda dam foundation starts in February
Syria-Jordan, Economics, 8/20/2002

Jordanian officials said that it is expected to start the construction of al-Wahda dam to share the water of al-Yarmouk river between Syria and Jordan in February after a board of seven international companies coalition was chosen to carry out the contract of this vital project.

The secretary of the Jordan Valley authority Zafer al-Alem told the Jordanian official news agency after he had made talks with the Syrian side on the project that "choosing the implementing committee for the dam project will be made before the end of the current year where construction works will start in February 2003." He added that "the cost of the project, according to amendments made on its designs decreased from 145 million Jordanian dinars to 85 million Jordanian dinars." He indicated that the main conditions of biding tender of the dam is that the implementing company is to offer the Jordanian and Syrian companies in the dam works that are "not less than 40% of the total works." Al-Alem added that seven foreign American, Turkish, German, Spanish, Chinese and other nationals companies are competing to win the bid.

The al-Wahda dam was exposed to the ups and downs of the Arab- Israeli conflict since the project was proposed in 1955.

Several problems emerged since the dam's special design was completed in 1987. Interests in building the dam receded after Jordan gave priority to Israel in implementing water projects within a peace agreement signed with it in 1994. This project, however, was revived following the improving of political relations between Syria and Jordan.

Previous Stories:
  Abul Ragheb visits Damascus on Monday   (8/17/2002)
  Passport requirement removed for travel between Amman, Damascus   (8/8/2002)
  Syria - Jordan economic talks to strengthening cooperation   (7/24/2002)
  Syria stresses commitment to building al- Wahda dam   (3/8/2002)
  Jordan and al-Wahda dam   (1/26/2002)

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