This week, the EU has completed the biggest photovoltaic solar
field in Gaza. It will provide 0.5 Megawatts of electricity per
day to fuel the Southern Gaza Desalination Plant.
The EU-funded Southern Gaza
Desalination Plant currently provides drinking water
to 75,000 inhabitants in the Khan Younis and Rafah
governorates. With the new energy field and new investments
foreseen it will eventually reach 250,000 people in Southern
Gaza by 2020.
Johannes Hahn, EU Commissioner for
European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations,
commented: "Limited energy supplies in Gaza are one of
the main challenges when improving access to safe and drinkable
water to the local population. The photovoltaic solar field is
essential to respond to the urgent water needs in Gaza and
create dignified living conditions for its people, thus
mitigating tensions in a highly conflict sensitive area."
Tackling water insecurity
The EU is investing in long-term water infrastructure across
Palestine with an emphasis on the Gaza Strip. In Gaza 97% of
the water is unfit for human consumption. The very high
population density in Gaza is putting huge strain on the ailing
infrastructure, which is crumbling as a result of repeated
conflicts, over ten years of Israeli closure, and the
intra-Palestinian split. This infrastructure strain has led to
critical water insecurity in the Strip.
The EU budget mobilised between 2006 and 2017 alone was €128
million. €21 million has been allocated in 2018. The goal is to
secure self-sufficient, equitable, affordable and sustainable
access to energy, safe drinking water and sanitation services
for all.
In the coming months, more EU-funded projects in this area will
be kicked-off. In particular the EU will be:
- Supporting Oxfam in its efforts to complete
the rehabilitation of brackish desalination
plants (approximately 16 public and 30 private),
which will serve 58,000 people living in Gaza. Activities to
increase public hygiene awareness and the establishment of
comprehensive Water Safety plans will be part of the project.
The EU contribution will be of € 1.5 million.
- Improving the efficiency of the water
sector. The EU has allocated €8.5 million to decrease
water network losses in Gaza from 40% to 20%. By improving the
networks and implementing widespread leak detection campaigns,
revenue collection is expected to increase from 38% to 80%.
- Supporting the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA)
in reforming the Palestinian water
sector. To this end, the EU is assisting the PWA to
operationalise the New Water Law and to create a Palestinian
National Water Company.
Gaza Central Desalination Plant - providing drinking
water to 2 million people in Gaza
On 20 March 2018, the EU held a pledging conference in Brussels
on the Gaza Central Desalination
Plant & Associated Works Project. The conference,
co-chaired by the EU and the Palestinian Authority, mobilised
financial support of €456 million to this biggest ever
infrastructure project in the Gaza strip, which will
provide a minimum of 55 million m3 of safe and clean drinking
water per year. The EU pledged €70 million for the desalination
plant plus €7.1 million for management costs.
For More Information
The Office of the
European Union Representative (West Bank and Gaza Strip,
UNRWA)
EU cooperation with
Palestine
