His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Emir of the Eastern Region, today inaugurated 63 development projects for the environment, water and agriculture system in the region, at a cost exceeding 20.8 billion Saudi Riyals. HRH also laid the foundation stone for 59 development projects for the environment system in the region, at a cost exceeding 8 billion Saudi Riyals. All these projects are to achieve environmental and water sustainability, in accordance with the objectives of Vision 2030. Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, attended the event.
The Emir of the Eastern Region stressed that these projects are a continuation of the great support that the environment, water, and agriculture sector receives from the wise leadership, may God support them. He added that this reflects on the lives of people in the Kingdom in general and in the Eastern Region in particular. The Emir noted that these projects represent a qualitative shift towards achieving environmental, water, and food sustainability, thereby contributing to the support of natural resources and providing a healthy and safe environment that improves the quality of life for citizens and residents.
For his part, the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture explained that the projects serve all cities, governorates, and centers in the Eastern Region, in accordance with the directives of the wise leadership and in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
Minister Al Fadhli explained that the projects aim to enhance the drinking water distribution system for beneficiaries in the Eastern Region. He noted that the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) has implemented 9 water projects at a cost of more than SR 12 billion. These projects include the Jubail water transmission system across cities of the Eastern Region, the transmission of water from Al-Khobar to the university district in Dammam, the transmission of water from the supply line to the industrial energy city, the transmission of water from Al-Tufaih water field to the Jubail station reservoirs, the transmission of water from Al-Khobar to Al-Hofuf (Phase II), the construction of the Jubail desalination plant (Phase II), the construction of the Al-Khobar desalination plant (Phase II), Al-Khobar seawater production system (Phase I), and the Jubail seawater production system (the million project). These projects aim to supply the cities of the Eastern Region with desalinated water, improve water quality in Jubail, and increase the amount of desalinated water in the region.
The Minister pointed out that these projects included two projects implemented by the Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) at a cost exceeding SR 3.3 billion, including the independent Jubail (3B) water project for desalination, with the aim of supplying the Riyadh and Qassim regions with 570,000 cubic meters per day. This is to meet the growing demand for drinking water and contribute to water security of the two regions. Another environmental project involved the construction of a treatment plant west of Dammam to reduce environmental damage and treat 200,000 cubic meters per day for use in various fields.
Minister Al Fadhli pointed out that the National Water Company (NWC) has implemented 38 water and environmental projects at a cost of more than SR 5 billion, including 20 water projects at a cost of more than SR 4 billion. He explained that the water projects included laying out some 1 million meters of main water lines and sub-networks, in addition to the construction of 52 reservoirs with a total capacity exceeding 1.5 million cubic meters, and pumping stations with a capacity exceeding 2.5 million cubic meters per day.
The Minister explained that the water projects included the implementation of three projects to improve water networks in the city of Dammam, two projects to improve water networks in the governorate of Al-Khobar, two projects to improve the water network in the governorate of Al-Ahsa, and two projects to improve water networks in the Al-Qatif governorate.
Minister Al Fadhli stated that the projects include the development of a water transmission plant with the drilling of wells and replacement of water lines in Hafar Al-Batin governorate, a project to equip the Tufaih water field in the Eastern Region, and three projects for water networks in various areas of Hafar Al-Batin and Al-Qaisumah governorates. Additionally, there is a project for main and feeder water networks in various areas of Al-Aziziyah in Al-Khobar governorate. The projects also include expanding the water network in villages in Al-Ahsa governorate, implementing, qualifying, and completing water and sanitation facilities in Diyar Al-Ahsa Housing, constructing overhead reservoirs for the villages of Al-Ahsa and Ibqiq, constructing a reservoir at the water station in Al-Khafji governorate, and replacing and implementing main and feeder water lines in various areas of Dammam.
The Minister pointed out that in order to achieve environmental sustainability and eliminate environmental damage, NWC has completed 18 environmental projects at a cost of over 1 billion Saudi Riyals. He noted that the projects included more than half a million linear meters of sewage lines and networks, the construction of sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a capacity of 189,000 cubic meters per day, and pumping stations with a total capacity exceeding 242,000 cubic meters per day.
Minister Al Fadhli noted that the environmental projects included the implementation of a sewage treatment plant (STP) in Al-Ahsa governorate (Phase I); the implementation of a sewage project for the King Fahad suburb, west of Abu Hadriya Road in Dammam (Phase I); the completion of the expansion of the dual treatment plant in Safwa (Parts I & II); the project to replace existing gravity lines with new discharge lines and to develop some existing pumping stations in Dammam; the implementation of two sewage network projects in Hafar Al-Batin and Al-Qaisumah governorates, the project to transfer flows from pumping stations in Dammam to the new treatment plant; the project to transfer flows from the main sewage station in West Al-Faisaliyah in Dammam to the new treatment plant in West Abu Hadriyah; a project for sewage networks and a pumping station in the Al-Nayfiyah neighborhood and various areas in Al-Ahsa; the extension of the sewage transmission line in Al-Aziziyah in Al-Khobar governorate, the expansion of sewage networks for Plan 92/2 in Al-Khobar governorate, and the implementation of sewage networks and a pumping station in East Al-Mahdoud with a discharge line in Al-Ahsa.
The Minister said that the environmental projects implemented by the National Water Company (NWC) also included the completion of the sewage network, pumping station, and discharge lines in Al-Ahsa governorate, the tanker pouring area project at the Al-Hofuf treatment plant, the completion of sewage networks at various locations in Ras Tanura governorate, the extension of the sewage networks in plans 457/2 and 149/2 in Al-Khobar governorate, the implementation of the sewage line entering the Al-Maqribiyah station in Al-Oyoun in Al-Ahsa governorate, and the extension of a line between the old treatment plant and the triple treatment plant in Dammam.
Minister Al Fadhli revealed that the Saudi Irrigation Organization (SIO) has implemented three projects at a cost of over SR 161 million, which included the construction of two reservoirs in Sector 10 with all their facilities in Al-Ahsa governorate, the implementation of the infrastructure for the SCADA monitoring and control system for the main control room to cover all parts of the Kingdom and connect it to SIO branches and facilities, and a project to convert open irrigation channels to closed pipes in Sector 8 in Al-Ahsa governorate, with the aim of providing consumers with recycled water to stop groundwater consumption, enhancing monitoring and compliance with standards to increase water use efficiency, and achieving irrigation water supply and availability to ensure the sustainability of water resources.
The Minister informed that the National Center for Vegetation Development and Desertification Control has implemented 10 projects in the Eastern Region, at a cost of over (77) million riyals, including the afforestation of Al-Oyoun National Park with (100) thousand trees, the planting of 500 thousand mangrove trees in the Arabian Gulf, a project to plant 616 trees in Al-Ahsa National Park (Phase II), a project to plant 150,000 trees in Al-Hofuf, the supply and installation of 565 information boards in the Eastern Region, a project to supply and install 100 benches and 20 information boards for Al-Asfar Lake Park in Al-Ahsa governorate, and a project to protect new pastoral reserve sites (Phase III) in the Eastern Region.
Minister Al Fadhli pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture's agency implemented a project to establish and qualify the King Abdulaziz Port Quarantine Station in Dammam at a cost of over 52 million riyals, with the aim of screening animals entering the Kingdom to ensure they are free of disease and issuing import and export permits.
The Minister confirmed that HRH the Emir of the Eastern Region laid the foundation stone for 59 development projects at a cost exceeding SR 8 billion, with the National Water Company (NWA) implementing 42 water and environmental projects at a total cost of more than SR 7.2 billion. The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) will implement two projects at a cost exceeding SR 284 million, while the General Organization for Irrigation will implement three projects at a cost of SR 403 million. The Ministry's Water Deputy Ministry will implement a project at a cost of approximately SR 5 million. The National Center for Vegetation Development and Desertification Control (NCVC) will implement three projects at a cost of more than SR 27 million, while the Ministry of Agriculture will implement four projects at a cost of approximately SR 5 million. The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program will implement four projects at a cost of more than SR 48 million.
Minister Al Fadhli explained that these quality projects were implemented in accordance with the best practices and technical expertise to reflect the progress of the environment, water, and agriculture system, in line with national strategies established to translate our country's ambitious Vision 2030 and reflect the keenness of its leaders to provide all means of decent living for its citizens and residents. At the end of the ceremony, HRH the Emir of the Eastern Region honored the participating entities.
