News
Red Sea Project: Thetis submits feasibility study to World Bank
Thetis has submitted a study to the World Bank, which is promoting a feasibility study for a project to build a tunnel connecting the Red Sea to the Dead Sea, regarding the potential environmental impact that the project would have on the Red Sea.
Specifically, the project envisions the transfer of water from the northern part of the Gulf of Aqaba to the Dead Sea; it will stabilize and restore the Dead Sea’s water level, which has been dropping steadily for decades, and be utilized for other important uses that benefit the local population.
About 2,000 m3 of water will be transported through a subterranean tunnel that will run approximately 180 Km across the desert.
A desalinization plant will convert the sea water into freshwater that can be used by Jordanians, Israeli and Palestinians.
In addition, the project will produce the electric energy required to desalinate the sea water.
Based on the investigations and studies conducted by a group of environmental experts, coordinated by Dr. Martina Bocci of Thetis and Dr. Andrea Barbanti, the water withdrawal would have no significant environmental effects as long as the water collection inlet on the eastern coast is positioned at least 140 m deep and at least 25 m from the sea floor. With such a placement, it would not affect the coral and marine life that inhabits the ecosystem located between the surface and a depth of 100 m.
The World Bank must now find the financing needed to launch the project, whose total cost is estimated at 10 billion dollars. Italy, France, Japan, South Korea, Holland, Sweden, Greece and the United States are involved in this important initiative. The project is of such importance that, if the necessary financing is not obtained, it will be conducted in successive phases. This will enable the proposed system to be installed and made operational as quickly as possible, even if on a reduced scale.
Specifically, the project envisions the transfer of water from the northern part of the Gulf of Aqaba to the Dead Sea; it will stabilize and restore the Dead Sea’s water level, which has been dropping steadily for decades, and be utilized for other important uses that benefit the local population.
About 2,000 m3 of water will be transported through a subterranean tunnel that will run approximately 180 Km across the desert.
A desalinization plant will convert the sea water into freshwater that can be used by Jordanians, Israeli and Palestinians.
In addition, the project will produce the electric energy required to desalinate the sea water.
Based on the investigations and studies conducted by a group of environmental experts, coordinated by Dr. Martina Bocci of Thetis and Dr. Andrea Barbanti, the water withdrawal would have no significant environmental effects as long as the water collection inlet on the eastern coast is positioned at least 140 m deep and at least 25 m from the sea floor. With such a placement, it would not affect the coral and marine life that inhabits the ecosystem located between the surface and a depth of 100 m.
The World Bank must now find the financing needed to launch the project, whose total cost is estimated at 10 billion dollars. Italy, France, Japan, South Korea, Holland, Sweden, Greece and the United States are involved in this important initiative. The project is of such importance that, if the necessary financing is not obtained, it will be conducted in successive phases. This will enable the proposed system to be installed and made operational as quickly as possible, even if on a reduced scale.
