In an attempt to promote private sector involvement in the national water infrastructure, the Saudi government will establish a special ministry to oversee water resource programs. Until now, the ministry of agricultural and water has been responsible for such tasks.
Earlier this year, the ministry initiated the construction of various new water desalination and purification plants throughout the Kingdom. The total costs of these projects are estimated at $200 million.
The Ministry is also planning to soon reevaluate the county’s water use and conservation systems. Although Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest producer of desalinated water, its treatment plants are still in need of upgrade, as many are aging and require repair to maintain their current output levels.
Presently, Saudi Arabia’s purification plants produce over 520 million gallons of water daily, constituting nearly a third of worldwide output. ― (MENA Report)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
