Inter-Basin Water Projects Only Viable for Industrial Purposes

The transfer of desalinated water from the Persian Gulf to drought-stricken Kerman and Yazd provinces will cost 150,000 rials (50 cents) per cubic meter, a senior consultant of the Energy Ministry said.
“The exorbitant costs of inter-basin water projects mean that only private sector industrialists can invest in such mega projects and the valuable resource should only be used to produce value-added commodities that can be exported like steel,” Mohammad Hajrasouliha was also quoted as saying by ILNA.
The consultant noted that the government currently does not plan to finance such projects due to financial constraints, but it welcomes the industrial sector to fund similar initiatives that can help meet a part of industries’ water demand.