Jordan and the al-Wahda dam

Jordanian Minister of Water and Irrigation Kamel Mahadin has announced that some US $165 million out of US $200 million of the total cost of building al-Wahda dam is available.

He continued that this sum has become available after signing the minutes of meeting with the Islamic Development Bank at US $46 million and a previous agreement with the Arab Fund at US $119 million.

In a statement to the Jordanian daily al-Rai issued on Saturday the Jordanian minister added that there is no problem for ensuring the remaining sum to cover the total cost of al-Wahda dam, estimated at US $40 million.

He said the Jordanian consultant committee was assigned to start preparation for companies which are to take part in building the dam, adding that these preparatory measures are expected to be completed by next September.

Meanwhile, the Jordanian minister said that there is no Jordanian decision to import waters from Turkey. He said his ministry views this matter within a regional perspective, stressing that Jordan's priorities are "to carry out al-Wahda dam, bringing in al-Debsi water project from the south of Jordan and the water desalinization project of al-Masous area."