Brussels, 11/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - Fathallah Sijilmassi, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), has stated his faith in the water desalination project in Gaza and states his institution is committed to finding the funding needed. The project comprises a 100 million cubic metre capacity desalination plant to provide water for over one and a half million people. According to unofficial sources, the project will cost over €350 million. On the sidelines of the World Water Forum in Marseilles (in March this year), France announced it would contribute €10 million if the project's feasibility is confirmed. Norway is also said to be interested.
To this end, a coordination meeting for potential investors was organised last week in Barcelona. Those attending included the European Investment Bank (EIB), the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
One question still to be settled relates to the relative amount of budgetary appropriations and private investment. Public financing from countries of the Persian Gulf and Norway is expected, and the EU will also take a share in the investment. The EIB is reported to have undertaken to finance (budgetary appropriations) studies and assistance operations relating to the feasibility of the project. Sources in Barcelona said: “We have agreed with the Palestinian Authority, the EIB and the World Bank, on the way to proceed” and jointly established a presentation of the project to be submitted to potential investors, and have also determined what is required for future consultation.
Israel will provide support for the project, it was announced in Marseilles on 14 March, for the construction of a desalination plant for the Gaza Strip, where groundwater is too salty and unfit for consumption, the Israeli energy and water minister said on Tuesday when questioned by AFP on the sidelines of the World Water Forum. (FB/transl.jl)