RIYADH, 3 March 2003 — Water Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi yesterday announced plans to introduce water tariffs within two years, and also called for stringent measures to be introduced which will save the Kingdom and other Gulf countries from severe water shortage in the future.
Addressing a press conference in Riyadh, he said a new water tariff was necessary to ensure prudent use of this vital resource for household, agricultural and industrial purposes.
“We don’t have any magic solution to the water problem. The more the people are convinced of the situation the easier would be our mission,” he added.
“There are no lakes and rivers with potable water under the Kingdom’s desert and we cannot bring water from other countries. There is no quick fix available to reduce the cost of desalination... But rationalization will help us have an adequate water supply,” he explained.
Gosaibi said the recent public awareness campaign on rationalization of water had a very limited effect.
“So we have to adopt effective measures to ensure prudent use of water,” he said.
“The ideal way to rationalize use of water will be the imposition of a scientific and objective tariff. As per the instructions of Crown Prince Abdullah, the ministry will present the new water tariff within two years,” he said.
Gosaibi expressed his hope that the new tariff would be productive and affordable to limited-income groups.
“I cannot tell you about the tariff now because I don’t know about it. But it should match with the financial ability of Saudi citizens,” he said.
He emphasized that officials and experts would conduct a detailed study on all aspects of the new tariff before its introduction.
“Rationalization of water use is one of his ministry’s priorities,” Gosaibi said.
The minister emphasized the need to discuss water-related issues openly and frankly in the media to enhance public awareness.
Referring to the Prince Sultan International Prize for Water, the minister said the first winners of the award would be honored at a global conference after two years.
Gosaibi described the water shortage faced by various countries, especially those in the Third World as catastrophic.
“According to statistics, nearly two billion people in the world do not get pure water — they live on contaminated water,” he added.
“If the current rate of water consumption continues there will be extreme shortages all over the world within 25 years,” Gosaibi said, quoting reliable information.
He also pointed out that some five million people die every year as a result of the use of contaminated water.
“There is dramatic increase in the demand for water in the Gulf region for drinking as well as industrial and agricultural purposes,” he said. “The Gulf region is about to reach a critical phase in its water situation.”
The Gulf Cooperation Council states have set up a committee of water ministers, he said, adding that the committee has held its first meeting in Muscat and adopted a number of important resolutions.
“The meeting also debated the prospect of linking the six Gulf states via a water pipeline,” he said.
Gosaibi told reporters that his ministry will organize a Gulf conference on Saturday in cooperation with the GCC Secretariat. It will also hold a seminar on rationalization of the use of water in the Kingdom.
