Jordan to launch a tender for desalination plant in Aqaba

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.