Israel Plans Major Desalination Expansion to Boost Water Supply
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Israel is significantly expanding its desalination capacity with a new plant planned near Nahariya, aiming to increase total national output to 1.5 billion cubic meters annually by the mid-2030s. This initiative addresses rising water demand due to population growth and climate change. The project involves a 25-year public-private partnership tender, managed by a special committee including representatives from key government ministries.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel plans a new desalination plant south of Nahariya to produce 100 million cubic meters of water annually.
- The new plant, near another under construction, will bring the Western Galilee site's capacity to 200 million cubic meters.
- The national desalination capacity is set to increase from 800 million to 1.5 billion cubic meters per year by the mid-2030s.
- The expansion aims to meet rising water demand from population growth and climate change.
- A 25-year tender for the Nahariya plant's operation has commenced under a public-private partnership model.
- The project is led by a special committee with representatives from the Ministry of Finance and other key bodies.
Israel is embarking on a significant expansion of its desalination capacity to address growing water demand driven by population growth and climate change. A new desalination plant is planned for construction south of Nahariya in the Western Galilee, as part of a national infrastructure plan.
This new facility is designed to produce approximately 100 million cubic meters (mcm) of water annually. It will be located near another desalination plant in the Western Galilee that is currently nearing completion. Once both plants are operational, the combined production capacity at that site is expected to reach about 200 mcm per year.
The expansion is part of a broader national strategy to increase Israel's total desalination output. In addition to the two Western Galilee plants, the plan includes upgrading the existing Ashkelon desalination facility and constructing a new one in Emek Hefer. Upon completion of these projects, Israel's total desalination capacity is projected to reach approximately 1.5 billion cubic meters per year by the early to mid-2030s, a substantial increase from the current 800 million cubic meters.
This expansion aims to reduce reliance on natural water sources, enhance operational flexibility, and ensure a stable water supply, especially during crises. The process to select a private concessionaire to design, finance, build, operate, and maintain the new Nahariya plant for 25 years has begun with the publication of pre-qualification documents. This tender is being managed by a special committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Water Authority, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and the Inbal company, headed by Gal Landau.
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