The Minister of Water and Irrigation, Raed Abu Soud, affirmed— in the presence of the Minister of Environment, Ayman Suleiman; the CEO of the National Carrier Company, Luis Pascual; representatives of concerned entities; and local communities—during his participation on Monday in the opening of the Environmental and Social Impact Disclosure workshop for the National Carrier Project, that this strategic project is one of the most important national projects adopted by the government. It is being implemented in line with the Royal directives to find sustainable water solutions, to execute the Water Sector Strategy 2023–2040, and to support the Economic Modernization Vision by providing additional water quantities to various regions of the Kingdom.
Minister Abu Soud added that holding this workshop today, with the participation of a large number of partners and stakeholders, represents an important step within the environmental and social impact requirements to identify the expected impacts of one of the most significant strategic projects in the water sector—the National Carrier Project—especially on the environment, public health, and society. The aim is to review our efforts and procedures to identify appropriate solutions and monitor them during construction and operation, develop plans to ensure effective management and environmental monitoring, propose alternatives in line with legislation and compliant with international standards, and ensure enhanced community participation through effective responses to the needs of local communities in partnership with all relevant entities.
He emphasized that effective partnership between the water sector, other sectors, and local communities is the cornerstone for the success of pioneering national projects, serving the development ambitions Jordan seeks to achieve—namely national water security, a sustainable economy, and improved public services for citizens—through building effective relationships based on partnership and diversity. This, in turn, contributes to economic development, better outcomes and outputs, faster implementation, and reduced costs.
He stressed that the government, through the water sector, is committed to implementing this project according to the highest environmental and social standards, with the highest levels of transparency and effective community participation, which constitute an important qualitative addition and a key element for the success and sustainability of such national projects.
Minister of Environment Dr. Ayman Suleiman stated that the National Carrier Project is among the most important strategic projects to address Jordan’s water challenge, noting that the Environmental, Social, and Economic Impact Assessment study was prepared in accordance with national legislation and international best practices. He added that the study identified potential project impacts and established clear mitigation measures, as well as management, monitoring, and follow-up plans. He emphasized that environmental protection and respect for the social dimension are fundamental pillars to ensure the project’s sustainability and achieve national water security for future generations.
Dr. Suleiman also noted that holding the disclosure and consultation session reflects a belief in the importance of transparency and engaging the community as a true partner in decision-making, affirming that listening to the feedback of official bodies and civil society organizations contributes to improving the quality of the study and enhancing public trust in the National Carrier Project.
For his part, Mr. Luis Pascual, CEO of the National Carrier Project Company, highlighted in his speech the importance of the National Water Carrier as a strategic national project to address water scarcity in Jordan, and the necessity of implementing it in a sustainable and responsible manner. He stressed the commitment of the relevant entities to applying the highest environmental and social standards, transparency in disclosure, and engaging stakeholders and local communities throughout all stages of the project, ensuring fair management of potential impacts and continued communication through the implementation and operation phases.
The Director of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) at the National Carrier Company, Mai Abu Tarboush, provided an extensive explanation of the level of compliance and the environmental, social, and governance responsibilities related to the project, its objectives and duties, and presented the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment study, along with the mechanisms and requirements for disclosure and the procedures followed in such cases.
Meanwhile, the Technical Executive Director, Ramzi Al-Tarzi, presented an overview of the project, its components and plans, and the surveys and studies related to the detailed designs, the determination of the project pipeline route, construction phases, and timelines.
An extensive dialogue then took place among attendees regarding the project, construction and implementation mechanisms, biodiversity, marine issues, cultural and social heritage, control measures, additional studies, and the steps to be implemented in partnership with local communities.