New Delhi, July 19 (). The situation in West Asia is very sensitive. The hope of a ceasefire between America and Iran is fading with each passing day. The US targeted Iran’s military bases and major centers for eight consecutive nights. It also included a Bonji desalination plant. Iran said that after the attack, about 10 thousand people in 20 villages will not be able to get drinking water. Then in response, Iran also targeted a similar plant in Kuwait.
Kuwait said Iran targeted its water plant the other day. It was said that this could pose a threat to life in the small desert country. Not only Kuwait but six Gulf countries are dependent on desalination plants. These plants are no less than a lifeline for them.
These are the plants that purify the salt water of the sea and make it sweet or potable. In countries where there is a shortage of natural fresh water, this technology is the biggest source of water. More than 400 desalination plants are located along the Gulf coasts, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Kuwait, providing water to some of the world’s most water-stressed regions.
According to a 2023 research paper published by the Arab Center Washington DC, the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states account for about 60 percent of the world’s desalination capacity and produce about 40 percent of the total purified water produced globally.
According to a 2020 report by the Gulf Research Centre, groundwater and desalinated water together supply about 90 percent of the region’s main water resources. In recent years, climate change has caused groundwater quality to deteriorate, leading the Gulf countries to rely heavily on energy-intensive sea water plants to meet their water needs.
The water needs of some countries are almost completely dependent on these plants. About 90 percent of Kuwait’s drinking water comes from desalination plants. Whereas in Oman this figure is around 86 percent, in Saudi Arabia it is 70 percent and in UAE it is around 42 percent. Saudi Arabia is the largest producer of desalinated water in the world.
Iran also uses desalination plants, which have been installed in coastal areas of the Gulf region, such as Qishm Island. However, Iran also has many rivers and dams and is not as dependent on desalination plants as other countries in the Gulf region.
Water scarcity has always been a major challenge in the Gulf region. The climate here is extremely dry, rainfall is also very less and irregular. In such a situation, if major plants providing water are attacked, it can have a direct impact on the water supply of millions of people.
—
kr/
