His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Jazan region, laid the foundation stone of 24 water, environmental and agricultural projects worth over SR5.33 billion.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, HE Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen A. AlFadley Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, said: "The inauguration of these vital projects confirmed the continuing care and attention accorded by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince, may Allah protect them, to meet the needs of all citizens in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
In line with the Saudi Vision 2030 and its strategic initiatives and programs which aim to maximize human and natural resources in different areas, these projects will contribute to economic and social development, promote private sector participation, build local capacity and stimulate innovation and local activities.”, AlFadley added.
AlFadley thanked HRH Prince Muhammad bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz for his patronage of the inauguration ceremony, and for his continuous support for the ministry's activities and projects in the region.
He pointed out that Jazan region has the highest number of projects under the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program, compared to other regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program was inaugurated last year by HRH King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to achieve balanced economic and social development which would provide rewarding financial benefits and stability for smallholder farmers, livestock keepers, beekeepers and fishermen.
The ministry said that these major projects included establishing the first water purification plant on the Jazan dam with a storage capacity of 51 million cubic meters, valued at SAR100 million to serve about 72,000 beneficiaries, water pipeline extended from Wadi Baysh dam to the plant with a design capacity of 159 thousand cubic meters per day, at a total cost exceeding SAR49 million. In addition to implementing a project to increase the design capacity of reverse osmosis water purification plant of Wadi Baysh, at a cost of SAR65 million, so that the production capacity reaches 150 thousand cubic meters per day. This project serves 30 thousand beneficiaries in 10 governorates.
The projects also included a project to implement main water pipeline, water systems and household water connections for villages in the governorates of Al-Darb, at a total cost of SAR32.9 million, to increase the access to water services by 84%, and increase the daily pumping rate by 26% to serves about 20 thousand beneficiaries in the region, a project to implement water reservoirs in Sabya governorate and its affiliated centers, at a cost of SAR12.7 million with a design capacity of 37,000 cubic meters per day. In addition to a project to rehabilitate water conveyance pipes and pumping units of multiple flood-affected wells in 4 governorates, at a cost exceeding SAR5 million.
The inauguration also included a project involving hydrological monitoring in 64 stations to monitor rainwater, torrential rain and monitoring wells, at a total cost of SAR800,000. In addition to projects to establish and operate the second Jazan mill to serve the Jazan region and the surrounding areas, with production capacity 600 tons of wheat per day, at a cost exceeded SAR190 million, bringing the production capacity of mills in the region to 1,200 tons of wheat per day.
Another project to implement the initiative of agricultural terraces and rainwater harvesting techniques was also launched at a cost of SAR35 million to cultivate 200 hectares in 4 governorates, with the aim of increasing the productivity of strategic crops, as well as a project of the fishermen's port in Al-Shaqiq with an area of 50 thousand square meters, which can accommodate 120 fishing boats.
The ministry said that the ceremony included inaugurating 7 water projects at a total cost of more than SAR.7 billion, including Al-Shuqaiq Water Transmission Systems Project (Phase Three), with a total capacity of 550,000 cubic meters per day to serve 6 governorates, and the Al-Shuqq desalination plant project with a production capacity of 42.5 thousand cubic meters per day.
It also included a draft agreement to supply water from the mobile water stations of Al-Shuqaiq plant with a production capacity of 150,000 cubic meters per day, a project to construct the Fursan plant with production capacity of 8.5 thousand cubic meters per day, a project to construct water reservoirs in the Jazan region with a capacity of 320,000 cubic meters per day, and two projects to dig 30 interceptor wells and three observation wells in Wadi Baysh with a production capacity of 70 thousand cubic meters per day. Additionally, the foundation stone for four agricultural projects was laid down at a cost that exceeded SAR62.7 million, as well as three environmental projects valued SAR40 million.
The ministry said that these projects would contribute to increasing access to water services, meet the increasing demand for water services, improve the quality of the services provided, raising operational efficiency in the transportation and distribution of water, and making full use of rainwater. In addition to increasing the productivity of strategic crops, improving operational performance, increasing green vegetation in the region, beautification of beaches and parks, and finding sustainable environmental solutions.