The Red Sea Dead Sea Canal project (RSDSC) has taken a great step forward. This 180-kilometre pipeline seeks to link the Dead Sea with the Red Sea by pumping around 1,900 million cubic metres of water annually from the Red Sea. Officials of the Jordanian, Israeli and Palestinian Authorities met in December 2006 with representatives of the World Bank and donor countries to launch a feasibility study. The meeting discussed further proceedings including timetable and funding. France, Japan, the Netherlands and the US have already contributed $8.8 million to fund the $15 million feasibility study, while the overall cost of the project is estimated at $3 billion. The meeting is an indication of success, as it was not easy to overcome all obstacles faced at the beginning of the project. The World Bank is playing a major role in eliminating differences among parties, while at the same time securing and coordinating finances for the project and the study phase.

Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that the Dead Sea is in danger of drying up as the Sea level has dropped by more than 30 metres during the past 20 years, largely due to diversion of water from the Jordan River for agricultural and industrial use. "This project will help ease the shortage of water for all of us," Israeli National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said at the summit, according to the Reuters news service. He also highlighted the importance of the project for the peace process in the region. "A peace agreement is a piece of paper that can be cemented only through economic projects. The study is an excellent example for cooperation, peace and conflict reduction." Palestinian president's economic adviser, Mohammad Mustafa confirmed: "The study is essential in promoting sustainable development of the entire Jordan Valley basin."

However, critics point out that the feasibility study does not sufficiently consider alternative options to tackle the causes of the water crisis, such as improved integrated water resource management. Even though it is the aim of the study to assess the consequences of this major natural engineering project, many questions have yet to be answered, before the so called Peace Conduit will actually contribute to peace and stability in the region. (by Christiane Roettger)

For more information on the project, please see
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093136148
and Friends of the Earth Middle East http://www.foeme.org/projects.php?ind=51

For an assessment on the impacts, please see
http://www.environmental-expert.com

Published in:ECC-Newsletter, Februar 2007