International News

ACWA–WTCO Consortium Signs Joint Development Agreement with Ministry of Energy of the Syrian Arab Republic for Water Desalination and Water Transmission Projects

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  • JDA launched to advance large-scale seawater desalination and water transmission projects in Syria, supporting long-term national water security.
  • Preliminary studies to assess up to 1.2 million m³/day of desalination capacity, leveraging Acwa’s global expertise in water infrastructure, delivery and financing.

Acwa, one of the world’s largest private water desalination companies, leader in energy transition and first mover into green hydrogen, announced the signing of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) between the Ministry of Energy of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Acwa-Water Transmission Company (WTCO) consortium in Saudi Arabia. The agreement marks the commencement of preliminary studies to support the assessment and development of water desalination and water transmission projects in the Syrian Arab Republic, contributing to the country’s long-term water security objectives.

Under the JDA, both parties will jointly collaborate during the development phase on technical, commercial and feasibility studies. These will include assessments of water demand, evaluations of available water resources and reviews of potential desalination and water transmission solutions. The studies are intended to support the evaluation of seawater desalination projects with an aggregate capacity of up to approximately 1.2 million cubic metres per day, alongside associated water transmission infrastructure and ancillary facilities. This phased approach will support informed decision-making on future development, while leveraging the expertise of Acwa in water desalination, water transmission, operation and project financing.

Acwa has a long-standing track record of developing and delivering large-scale water desalination and transmission projects around the world, helping countries secure reliable and affordable water for their people. This agreement reflects our commitment to applying that experience in support of Syria’s long-term water security, through a structured and phased approach focused on technical rigour, feasibility and sustainability. We look forward to working closely with the Ministry of Energy to assess solutions that can strengthen water infrastructure and support future development.

Marco Arcelli, CEO of Acwa

The JDA was signed in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Energy of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Acwa-WTCO consortium, reflecting ongoing efforts to advance sustainable solutions for the water sector and strengthen water infrastructure in line with international best practices.

This agreement represents an important step toward supporting water security in Syria and advancing integrated and sustainable water solutions, based on a structured framework of study and evaluation prior to any subsequent stages of development.