Saudi Launches Plans for Water Project Longer Than the Nile River
Saudi Arabia is preparing to undertake a massive project to create the world’s largest source of drinkable water.
Their plan involves digging a river that would span 12,000 kilometres in length, 11 metres in width, and four metres in depth – all with the aim of surpassing the length of the Nile River. This ambitious feat will require the use of anti-corrosion pipes, each with a diameter of 2.25 metres, as reported by popular Saudi journalist, Ahmad Al Shugairi in his TV series, Seen.
“The amount of effort spent to create underground rivers provides us with water in our homes, even though we are in an area that is mostly desert. It is a blessing I was born with, and from getting used to it I forgot it and took it for granted. Thank you to everyone who had a hand that we wake up and find water at home,” Al Shugairi stated.
He added: “After a few years, the length of the water pipes will transport this fresh water from one place to another,” indicating that this project be twice the size of the Nile, which is over 6,000 kilometres long.
Al Shugairi stated that this upcoming desalinated water transport network will be among the biggest in the world.
The pipes running beneath Saudi cities will extend for 126,000 kilometres, which is long enough to wrap around the world three times. The network will produce a massive quantity of water, with 9.4 million cubic meters being generated each day.
“We are talking about the longest, twice the longest river in the world. They are all underground pipes that bring us fresh, good water,” added Al Shugairi.
This amount, according to Al Shugairi, if distributed to the world’s population, every person would get two gallons (two bottles) of water from the production of water sweetened in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia dominates global desalination production
Saudi Arabia holds the position of the top global producer of desalinated water, generating over 1.006 billion cubic meters annually, which accounts for 18% of worldwide production.
This is primarily facilitated by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation, a government-controlled entity responsible for producing the largest volume of desalinated water globally.
The corporation’s desalination plants located on the eastern coast generate (495.3) million cubic meters of water, while the coastal stations generate (511.3) million cubic meters.
Together, these two regions produce a total output of a (1006.6) million cubic metres per year. Additionally, the 27 desalination plants operational in the country collectively generate (24,884,807) MWh of electrical energy.
