The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has approved a financing package of up to $1bn in loans and up to $800m in political-risk insurance for Jordan’s National Water Carrier, formally the Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project.
The project
The scheme is being developed as a public-private partnership between Jordan’s Ministry of Water and Irrigation and a special-purpose vehicle owned 90% by Meridiam and 10% by Suez. Estimated project cost is around USD 6.56bn. The 30-year concession covers:
- A seawater desalination plant in Aqaba with a capacity of 300 million cubic metres a year
- A 438 km pipeline network carrying water to Amman
- A captive renewable energy system of around 281 MW
Why it matters
Jordan is among the world’s most water-scarce countries, with roughly 61 cubic metres of water available per person per year, far below the absolute scarcity threshold of 500. The project is expected to supply about 40% of the country’s drinking water needs.
Status and timeline
Financial close has not yet been completed. Other lenders, including the EBRD, IFC and AIIB, are reported to have committed financing. Water pumping is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2030.
Sources: MEED (24 September 2026); Infralogic/ION Analytics.