More desalination plants, experts neededJEDDAH: Inventions and investments can produce big changes in the Kingdom and help meet the high demand for water, Dr. Adil Bushnak, chairman of the Bushnak Group and chairman of the organizing committee for Saudi Water & Power Forum 2010, said Sunday at a press conference in Jeddah. The event, which began Sunday at the Jeddah Hilton, aims to find solutions for water shortage in the Kingdom and address a number of other issues including efforts to reduce water tariff, organizers said. Local and international water and energy experts from 30 countries are participating and discussing plans and innovations to address water issues. Dr. Mahmoud Abu Zeid, former Egyptian minister for Water Resources and Irrigation and Chairman of the Arab Water Council, said the scarcity of the water is one of the biggest challenges facing the Arab world. “The volume of water renewed annually is about 335 billion cubic meters, while the amount of groundwater is estimated at 143 billion cubic meters. In addition, agricultural sector alone consumes about 89.5 percent of the water and domestic consumption accounted for 8.6 percent, Dr. Abu Zeid said. He said that the Kingdom produces about 30 percent of world's desalinated water and groundwater consumed here is up to four times as much as the annually renewed water. The forum will also highlight water conservation by using the most modern technologies in desalination and treatment plants, organizers said. “We are looking to train managers in the water sector in the Gulf countries in water management and finding resources for developments in the sector,” Dr. Abu Zeid added. Guiding Arab businessmen to invest in the field of water will be discussed, along with using Saudi inventions to reduce water consumption, particularly in agriculture, Dr. Bushnak said. “We have already contacted King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) to provide a committee with water inventions by Saudi inventors who participated in Ibtkar exhibition this year,” he said. “We hope to see the participation of Saudi inventors in the coming forum.” There is a need to address the fact that some people in the region face water shortages, Dr. Abu Zeid told the Saudi Gazette. “Unfortunately, 20 percent of the people in the Arab world do not have enough clean drinking water,” he said. “We should take care of this issue.” He added that the Arab world needs more desalination plants and water experts should help businessmen invest in the sector. Official support is required to ensure farmers learn how to reduce water use, Dr. Bushnak said. “We need the governmental sectors, especially the Ministry of Agriculture, to cooperate with us to increase awareness among farmers by training them how to use modern equipment to conserve water,” he said. There is potential for Saudi Arabia to make great strides in the field, according to a study provided by the Al-Aghar Saudi Group. Strategic planning would make Saudi Arabia the world's leading country in producing water, the study said. The event was organized by the Bushnak Academy and the CWC Groups, under the supervision of the Ministry of Water and Electricity.
