PM attends signing ceremony for fibre optics, water security megaprojects

AMMAN — Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz on Wednesday attended a signing ceremony for two agreements related to national projects, the first to reduce water loss and the second for a fibre-optic network.

Razzaz, during the ceremony, highlighted the strategic importance of these two megaprojects, which "show confidence" in the Jordanian economy and its ability to overcome the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic during the current transitional phase leading to recovery and resilience.

The project related to reducing water loss will have a “major role” in enhancing the Kingdom’s water security, which suffers from water scarcity, the premier said, adding that the project will also contribute in reducing the nearly 45-per cent loss rate, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Regarding the fibre-optic network project, Razzaz said that it will expand Internet access across the Kingdom at a reasonable cost, providing high-speed services.

The agreement to reduce water loss, signed by CEO of the Jordan Water Company (Miyahuna) Ghazi Khalil and the Director of the executing company Munther Khleifat, falls within the water sector’s package of strategic projects intended to renovate water networks and improve water supply.

 The project will serve 100,000 subscribers — some half a million citizens — to reduce water loss from 45 per cent to nearly 20 per cent during the first phase covering Amman, Madaba and Zarqa. It also aims to increase water quantities, reduce costs and instal modern leak control systems and smart modern meters.

Water Minister Raed Abul Saud noted that the ministry has started implementing a number of packages, including projects funded by USAID, for the years 2020-2023 to include the regions affiliated to the Miyahuna, Yarmouk and Aqaba water companies, the Water Authority and the Jordan Valley Authority (irrigation networks), in cooperation with the private sector.

Meanwhile, the fibre-optic network agreement, signed by Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Muthanna Gharaibeh and International Finance Corporation Hub Leader for public-private partnerships transaction advisory services in the Levant region Mazen Alsad, aims to expand the fibre-optic network to include all governorates of the Kingdom