Saudi Arabia will need to invest 300 billion riyals (80 billion dollars) in the water sector over the next 40 years, experts said in a report published on Saturday, cited by AFP.
Adil Bushnak, quoted in the daily Arab News, called for the Gulf desert kingdom to speed up the planned privatization of the water sector.
The country, which relies heavily on desalination, consumes three to eight times more than the amounts available from renewable sources, said Bushnak, an advisor to the Supreme Economic Council headed by Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.
He said the government was recovering less three percent of the actual costs of providing water and sewage services, mainly due to low tariffs, flawed collection and loss from the mains.
Another expert, Akil Khawaji, said privatization of the water sector would curb high consumption rates in Saudi Arabia, create jobs, increase investments and encourage competition.
Saudi agricultural policies could jeopardize the scant resources, said the official of a royal commission for the industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu.
"There are no ready-made solutions ... The first step should be the creation of a national water commission to maintain a balance between water security and food security," he said.
In October, the Saudi government set up an electricity and water company for Yanbu and Jubail, ahead of the sector's privatization, said AFP.
Meanwhile, the general secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council will hold in the last week of March the “Fifth Gulf Conference on Water,” reported the London-based Al Hayat.
Under the title “Water Security in the Gulf,” the meeting will discuss about 70 working papers addressing the issue, GCC secretary general, Ajlan Kawari told the paper.
An exhibition of water technology equipment will be held on the sideline of the conference, which will take place in Qatar, said the official – Albawaba.com
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