JEDDAH, 26 March 2006 — In an unprecedented move to quench the country’s growing water requirements, Saudi Arabia yesterday launched a SR400 million project that will pump potable water from Al-Rub Al-Khali (the Empty Quarter) to the southern Najran region.
Minister of Electricity and Water Abdullah Al-Hussayen, who signed a contract with Al-Suwaih Agricultural Trading Company for the purpose, said the project would be ready within 36 months. He also spoke about plans to construct an underground dam in Najran to block the subterranean flow of water.
“The two projects will have a combined capacity of 100,000 cubic meters and will play a big role in solving Najran’s water problem to a great extent,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the minister as saying after the signing ceremony.
Najran Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Saud said he was happy over the launch of the water project, which he said was planned due to scarcity of water in the region to meet the needs of its people. “About 60 percent of Najran’s population depends on agriculture. They need more water as a result of growing population and expansion of agriculture and industry,” he pointed out.
Al-Rub Al-Khali showed indications of considerable groundwater resources, said professor Muhammad Sultan of Western Michigan University, after visiting the area, the biggest continuous desert in the world, recently. “We have to do our homework and to establish its whereabouts and how much we can take out of it so that we can set up sustainable development of this area,” he said.
Saudi Arabia consumes 230 liters per capita daily, compared with 150 liters in Europe. According to predictions from the Central Department of Statistics, the Kingdom’s total population will exceed 29 million by 2010 and rise to 36.4 million 10 years later. Taking a baseline consumption of 300 liters per person per day, the resulting demand for water will increase to over 3,000 million cubic meters per year by 2010.
The Kingdom will need a capital investment averaging nearly $2 billion per year for the next 20 years to meet projected water demand.
