06 June 2006
TEHRAN: Energy Minister Parviz Fattah here Tuesday expressed Tehran's determination to implement the high-profile project to export potable water to Kuwait, adding that the Persian Gulf emirate's minister for water affairs will visit Iran to work out the details of the scheme.
The minister told Moj news agency that the water export project will be the biggest such undertaking in the Middle East, stressing that the project will involve both land and sea operations.
"Given the (large) diameter of pipes to be used in the project and the amount of water to be transferred from Iran to Kuwait, executive operations need to be carried out both onshore and offshore," he said, adding that over $1.5 billion will be invested in the project.
"The two countries are following up the issue with great precision and sensitivity," he said.
The minister further noted that a Kuwaiti envoy was in Tehran recently to discuss the issue.
"The two sides decided that the details of the contract be discussed during the upcoming visit of the Kuwaiti minister," he said, adding that the Kuwaiti minister is expected to be within the next 2-3 months.
"The Kuwaiti side has repeatedly announced its eagerness to have the project implemented," he maintained.
In April, Fattah said the 2004 water export agreement with Kuwait would be updated. The water deal was brought up during President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit to the neighboring Arab state.
"I'm positive that once the agreement is updated, issues related to the construction of the water pipeline will be resolved. Fortunately, past differences have given way to a consensus on water export from the country," he said.
Under the 2004 agreement, Iran had pledged to export 900,000 cubic meters per day of potable water to the parched Persian Gulf state via a pipeline.
Exports will be conducted in accordance with the climatic conditions in Iran. Talks on water export to Kuwait have been clouded among increasing concerns that Iran will face serious water shortages in coming years due to the ever-increasing consumption, low precipitation and declining underground reserves. The Energy Ministry announced earlier that desert provinces in central Iran are facing a severe water deficit and that it is planning to construct several dams to bring the situation under control.
According to published figures, some 97 percent of the urban population and 63 percent of rural residents have access to clean water in Iran.
TEHRAN: Energy Minister Parviz Fattah here Tuesday expressed Tehran's determination to implement the high-profile project to export potable water to Kuwait, adding that the Persian Gulf emirate's minister for water affairs will visit Iran to work out the details of the scheme.
The minister told Moj news agency that the water export project will be the biggest such undertaking in the Middle East, stressing that the project will involve both land and sea operations.
"Given the (large) diameter of pipes to be used in the project and the amount of water to be transferred from Iran to Kuwait, executive operations need to be carried out both onshore and offshore," he said, adding that over $1.5 billion will be invested in the project.
"The two countries are following up the issue with great precision and sensitivity," he said.
The minister further noted that a Kuwaiti envoy was in Tehran recently to discuss the issue.
"The two sides decided that the details of the contract be discussed during the upcoming visit of the Kuwaiti minister," he said, adding that the Kuwaiti minister is expected to be within the next 2-3 months.
"The Kuwaiti side has repeatedly announced its eagerness to have the project implemented," he maintained.
In April, Fattah said the 2004 water export agreement with Kuwait would be updated. The water deal was brought up during President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit to the neighboring Arab state.
"I'm positive that once the agreement is updated, issues related to the construction of the water pipeline will be resolved. Fortunately, past differences have given way to a consensus on water export from the country," he said.
Under the 2004 agreement, Iran had pledged to export 900,000 cubic meters per day of potable water to the parched Persian Gulf state via a pipeline.
Exports will be conducted in accordance with the climatic conditions in Iran. Talks on water export to Kuwait have been clouded among increasing concerns that Iran will face serious water shortages in coming years due to the ever-increasing consumption, low precipitation and declining underground reserves. The Energy Ministry announced earlier that desert provinces in central Iran are facing a severe water deficit and that it is planning to construct several dams to bring the situation under control.
According to published figures, some 97 percent of the urban population and 63 percent of rural residents have access to clean water in Iran.
© Iran Daily 2006
