Saudi Arabia will invest $80 billion into key water projects in the coming years to support its economic growth and provide safe and equitable access to water for all citizens and residents, according to a report.
The Kingdom has long faced challenges in the water sector, with much of its water supply dependent on desalination. The government has prioritized investments in new technologies and infrastructure to ensure the country’s water security.
The kingdom’s Deputy Minister for Water at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani announced the figure at the UN 2023 Water Conference held in New York on March 22 to 24, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Between 2022 and 2030, the population of Saudi Arabia is expected to grow from 34.8 million to over 40 million. According to the USTA, Saudi Arabia has relied on desalinated water since the 1950s to ensure that the population has access to a reliable source of potable water. Most groundwater, which comprises less than 40 percent of the country’s water resources, is used for agricultural purposes. The population growth rate is projected to have a significant impact on wastewater generation, leading to a 50 percent increase in wastewater generation from a 2018 baseline volume of 7.2 million m3/day.
“The kingdom aspires to provide sanitation services to all by increasing the percentage of the population covered by sanitation services to be more than 95 percent by 2030. Also, KSA established the National Water Efficiency and Conservation Center,” Dr. Al-Shaibani said, according to Arabian Business.
Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, has held the post since the Ministry was created by combining the Ministry of Agriculture with a new Ministry that oversees agriculture, environment and water.
