Red Sea - Dead Sea Water Conveyance Feasibility Study and Environmental and Social Assessment
The declining water level of the Dead Sea has far reaching environmental, social, and economic consequences for the Dead Sea region and beyond. The water level of the Dead Sea has fallen over twenty meters in less than fifty years. The current rate of decline is approximately one meter per year. The consequent impacts on the region of the shrinking Sea are varied, numerous, and may soon become irreversible.
On May 22, 2005 at the annual World Economic Forum - Dead Sea, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority (in this website hereinafter referred to as the "beneficiary parties") announced their agreement and commitment to study the feasibility of transferring water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea as a solution to stop the rapidly declining level of the Dead Sea. The three parties cooperatively prepared the terms of reference (TOR) for the Feasibility Study and Environmental and Social Assessment (the "Study") of a water transference from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. In a jointly signed letter, the beneficiary parties requested the World Bank to coordinate donor support and manage the Study. The World Bank agreed and will manage the Study in accordance with its established policies and guidelines. This web site provides information on the status of the Study process and will, in due course, serve as a channel for public information, dialogue, and input.
Water transport from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea in order to prevent further decline of the Dead Sea's water level requires an in-depth feasibility study. The beneficiary parties share a vision for saving the Dead Sea. This vision involves conveying water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea to reverse environmental degradation and generate water and energy at affordable prices for the region. This vision represents a symbol of peace and cooperation in the Middle East. The TOR prepared by the beneficiary parties stipulates a comprehensive investigation of the environmental, economic, social and technical implications of this water conveyance concept.
The Dead Sea is a site of exceptional historic, cultural, economic, and environmental importance for the Middle East and for the world. Furthermore, the Study offers a major opportunity for those who live in the lower Jordan Valley to work together and strengthen relationships among neighbors while addressing an environmental and water scarcity challenge of regional and global interest and significance. The beneficiary parties believe that the Study process itself promises to contribute to further cooperation.
The Study will consider environmental, economic, technical, social, and financial aspects of the concept, and shall not prejudice the riparian rights of any of the beneficiary parties.
The Study will be carried out through two independent consultancy contracts, one for the Feasibility Study and another for the Environmental and Social Assessment. World Bank procurement procedures apply. For more information, see the World Bank Procurement site.
A General Procurement Notice (GPN) is expected to be issued in March 2007 outlining the consultancy needs.
Red Sea - Dead Sea : Study Financing
The Study is financed through a multi-donor trust fund established for implementation of the Study pursuant to the Terms of Reference mutually agreed by the Beneficiary Parties. The beneficiary parties requested the World Bank to coordinate donor financing and manage the Feasibility Study and the Environmental and Social Assessment of the Red Sea - Dead Sea Water Conveyance concept.
Numerous international governments with proven histories of commitment to the region have expressed interest in funding this Study. The World Bank is currently in consultation with these potential donors regarding financing of the Feasibility Study and the Environmental and Social Assessment. France, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States have made firm commitments to contribute to financing of the Study.
Work on the Study is estimated to take about two years from signing the contracts at a total cost of US$15.5 million.
Red Sea - Dead Sea : The Study Process
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Objective of the Study
To investigate the feasibility of the Red Sea‑Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project as a solution to the decline of the Dead Sea.
The outcome of the Feasibility Study and the Environmental and Social Assessment will serve as a tool for stakeholders to determine whether the construction of the Red Sea‑Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project is feasible, taking into account all relevant aspects including the technical, economic, financial, environmental, and social factors. This process will also provide an opportunity for a diverse range of stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations and Nongovernmental Organizations, to dialogue with the beneficiary parties on the study findings and to provide their inputs, views and suggestions on the proposed project.
Terms of Reference
The terms of reference for the studies were:
Prepared through a cooperative process by the three governments
Sufficiently detailed to serve as tender document
Addresses both issues and identifies tasks
Describes oversight, management, and decision process
Provides for public consultation and disclosure processes
Principal Issues and Challenges to be Addressed in the Studies
The following aspects are addressed in the studies:
Environmental
Technical
Economic
Institutional
Social
The Study Program
“The Study Program consists of a full technical, economic, environmental and social evaluation of the proposed Red Sea–Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project through preparation by independent Consultants of a Feasibility Study and an Environmental and Social Assessment. Policy Statements on Water Resources Management that provide an overview of the policies in the context of the Dead Sea and identify ongoing and planned actions to address broader water resources management issues will be prepared in the region.”
- TOR, as signed by the beneficiary parties
Implementation of the Project would present a variety of environmental and social impacts, some positive and some negative, at both the area and project specific level. All of these conditions will be analyzed and projected into the future in order to form a baseline for assessment of impacts, analysis of alternatives and development of mitigation and monitoring actions.
Sub-Studies
The Feasibility Study and the Environmental and Social Assessment will draw upon four Sub-Studies, as specified below. The Sub-Studies will serve as the building blocks of and feed data and information to the Feasibility Study and Environmental and Social Assessment. The sub-studies are:
Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat Study - Source area
Water Conveyance System Study - Red Sea to the Dead Sea
Dead Sea Region Study - Rehabilitation of the Dead Sea
Hydropower and Desalination Facilities Study - Additional Option
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT
Key Environmental and Social Issues to be Studied
The following issues are addressed in the environmental and social assessment:
Upper Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat and Dead Sea marine environment including coral reefs
Impacts on the Aqaba and Eilat Region
Ecological connectivity in Wadi Araba
Impacts on the Dead Sea Region
Mixing Red Sea and Dead Sea Waters
Impacts on Groundwater
Impacts to Archeological, Historical and Cultural Sites
Impacts from Hydropower Facilities and Desalination Plants
Induced Impacts
HIV/AIDS Risks
Potential Impacts from Special Risks
Cumulative Impacts
Expected Study Timeline
The full duration of the Study is anticipated to be 24 months from the time of the signing of the consultancy contracts. Major targets within this timeline include: Inception reports, review of existing studies; identification of gaps in knowledge, preliminary draft reports, integration of sub-studies, and the final reports.
Red Sea - Dead Sea : Public Consultation and Disclosure
Public consultation and disclosure are internationally accepted practices for large-scale infrastructure projects. This process is a valuable safeguard mechanism, and as such is an essential element of any World Bank project or study. The Terms of Reference for the Feasibility Study and the Environmental and Social Assessment include extensive public consultation as well as stakeholder meetings at each and every stage of the process. These meetings will be announced well in advance and will be held in locations easily accessible to the stakeholders. This process will be sponsored by and directly involve Jordanian, Israeli, and Palestinian officials. This web site will post a schedule of meetings as available.
Red Sea - Dead Sea - Independent Panel of Experts
Large scale projects that are highly complex often involve the use of independent panels of internationally recognized experts to provide advice during the design, implementation, and operational phases. Although this process is not common to feasibility studies, the TOR for this Study stipulates appointment of an internationally reknowned independent panel of experts to monitor, review, and provide advice to the Study Technical Steering Committee during the implementation of the Feasibility Study and Environmental and Social Assessment
Red Sea - Dead Sea : Additional Information
Who is Involved
Duration and Cost
Timing for the Study
Financing
Focus of the Study
Cooperation Among the Beneficiary Parties
Civil Society / Getting involved
Background Information
Useful Links
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Who is Involved
As mentioned, the three Beneficiary Parties are involved in this study. In addition, stakeholder groups and individuals from civil society will participate throughout the Study consultation process. The World Bank will assist with oversight and implementation of the Study.
Duration and Cost
Once the consultancy contracts are signed, the work is expected to take up to two years at an estimated cost of US$ 15.5 million. The cost reflects the degree of details the various complex environmental, social, economic, and technical issues and concerns are to be addressed. It also reflects the cost of extensive public discussion and stakeholder involvement required of complex studies such as this one.
Timing for the Study
The continued decline of the Dead Sea has created an increasingly critical situation in need of urgent attention.
Financing
The beneficiary parties have asked the World Bank to coordinate donor financing and to manage the study. To this end, the World Bank has established a multi-donor trust fund and contributions have been confirmed from France, Japan, the Netherlands, and the USA. Other interested international donors are invited to examine the Study Program and to contribute to the implementation of the study.
Focus of the Study
The Red Sea to Dead Sea Water Conveyance option was identified during the 1996 - 1998 Prefeasibility Study as the conveyance route with the greatest likelihood of success and the least potential negative impact. The beneficiary parties jointly have agreed to pursue this Feasibility Study. Together they will undertake a comprehensive investigation of this water conveyance route, including analysis of the environmental, technical and economic aspects of the proposed Project, and an extensive environmental and social assessment of potential impacts.
Cooperation among the beneficiary parties
Joint preparation of the Terms of Reference and, later, statements of support made by ministerial-level representatives of the beneficiary parties at the World Economic Forum – Dead Sea in May 2005 and the donors' meeting in Paris in July 2005 demonstrate the formal commitment among the parties to continued cooperation. Notably, these formal commitments were preceded by a lengthy process wherein multi-disciplinary teams from the three beneficiary parties worked together to draft the TOR. These efforts, which continued during troubled times in the region, demonstrates the true commitment of the beneficiary parties to arrest the decline of the Dead Sea water level and follow through with the Study. While addressing serious environmental issue in the region, the Study serves as an example of the peaceful and cooperative activities taking place in the region.
Civil Society / Getting involved
As a private citizen you can follow the progress of the Study through this website. For residents of the region, discussions with stakeholders will be conducted throughout the term of the Study. The dates of the stakeholder and public consultations will be posted on this website as they become available.
Background Information
Useful Links:
World Bank Safeguard Policies
World Bank Procurement Procedures
Red Sea - Dead Sea : Procurement
The Study will be carried out through two independent consultancy contracts, one for the Feasibility Study and another for the Environmental and Social Assessment. World Bank procurement procedures apply. A General Procurement Notice (GPN) is expected to be issued in March 2007 outlining the consultancy needs.
For more information, see the Information Sheet and the World Bank Procurement site.
The Study will consider environmental, economic, technical, social, and financial aspects of the concept, and shall not prejudice the riparian rights of any of the beneficiary
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