Turmoil in Saudi water sector as country runs dry

[thackney]

Turmoil in Saudi water sector as country runs dry
http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/turmoil-saudi-water-sector-country-runs-dry-465571093
10 July 2016

...There have been widespread complaints over the implementation of a new water metering scheme brought in at the beginning of the year, in particular serious billing errors. Some residents complain their water charges have risen from a few dollars to several thousand. 

In April the country’s long-serving water and electricity minister, Abdullah Al-Hussayen, was sacked by the royal family and, as part of one of the biggest shake-ups in the labyrinthine Saudi bureaucracy in recent years, his ministry was dissolved.

Everyone, including the Saudi government, is agreed that the country and its population of 32 million – including an estimated nine million non-nationals – are facing immense water-shortage challenges. With demand rising at five per cent per annum, the country is in danger of running dry within the next 20 years....

...Saudi Arabia is part of one of the hottest and driest regions on the planet, receiving on average about 100mm of rain per year.

Due to generous government subsidies, Saudis - living in a land dominated by desert with no natural rivers or lakes - have become used to paying virtually nothing for their water. As a result, they are among the world’s most prolific consumers, using on average up to 350 litres of water per person per day. In Europe the equivalent figure is about 130 litres per day.

In the more affluent areas of cites such as Riyadh and Jeddah, the figure climbs to more than 500 litres per person per day.

There has been chronic mismanagement of water resources. Half a century ago, Saudi Arabia sat on one of the world’s biggest and oldest aquifers, containing an estimated 500 cubic kilometres of water.

Scientists say that in one generation most of that massive amount of water has been exhausted, mainly through a seriously flawed agricultural policy.

Agriculture accounts for more than 80 percent of Saudi Arabia’s water usage. In the late 1970s and '80s, a programme of food self-sufficiency was pursued. The government subsidised pumps and energy so farmers could suck out underground water. Irrigation methods were primitive, with vast tracts of desert flooded for crops.

The country became one of the world’s biggest wheat producers. On average it takes 1,000 tons of water to produce one ton of wheat. Large herds of cattle were kept in air-conditioned pens....

[geronl]

air conditioning the cattle is nice

but

can't they afford more desalination plants.... they do have access to sea water

[thackney]

air conditioning the cattle is nice

but

can't they afford more desalination plants.... they do have access to sea water

To cope with an ever more parlous water problem, the desert kingdom has become increasingly reliant on production from desalination plants. Saudi Arabia is by far the world’s biggest user of desalination technology, with its more than 30 plants on the coast processing millions of gallons of water each day, then piping it hundreds of kilometres to Riyadh and other population centres.

Over-dependence on desalination creates its own set of problems. Saudi officials are trying to curtail state spending but desalination is an expensive business. Estimates are that to keep up with water demand, as much as $29bn needs to be invested in desalination over the next 15 years.

The desalination process requires large amounts of energy. To fuel its desalination plants, Saudi Arabia uses up to 1.5 million barrels of oil per day – more than the entire daily oil consumption of the UK.

[geronl]

It makes more sense to build desalination plants than trying to become the leading producer of wheat!

They should have been trying to prepare for a time when the money runs out.

[Wingnut]

It makes more sense to build desalination plants than trying to become the leading producer of wheat!

They should have been trying to prepare for a time when the money runs out.

Jed Clampett said; "Granny you can't drink oil..."

[thackney]

It makes more sense to build desalination plants than trying to become the leading producer of wheat!

They should have been trying to prepare for a time when the money runs out.

It is cheaper to transport wheat from another country than to grow it using desalination plants.

[thackney]

the leading producer of wheat!

If true, that must have been a long time ago.

http://www.indexmundi.com/agriculture/?commodity=wheat

[thackney]

the leading producer of wheat!

One of the leading, far from THE leading.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-04/saudi-wells-running-dry-of-water-spell-end-of-desert-wheat

[geronl]

It is cheaper to transport wheat from another country than to grow it using desalination plants.

Import it from where... Yemen... lol

[IsailedawayfromFR]

To cope with an ever more parlous water problem, the desert kingdom has become increasingly reliant on production from desalination plants. Saudi Arabia is by far the world’s biggest user of desalination technology, with its more than 30 plants on the coast processing millions of gallons of water each day, then piping it hundreds of kilometres to Riyadh and other population centres.

Over-dependence on desalination creates its own set of problems. Saudi officials are trying to curtail state spending but desalination is an expensive business. Estimates are that to keep up with water demand, as much as $29bn needs to be invested in desalination over the next 15 years.

The desalination process requires large amounts of energy. To fuel its desalination plants, Saudi Arabia uses up to 1.5 million barrels of oil per day – more than the entire daily oil consumption of the UK.

one of the uses of water from the desalination plants is to water one of the best golf courses in the world. http://www.saudiarabia-travel.org/golf.html

Guess some things take a priority in life.  Wonder what the per gallon cost to generate the water to do this is?  Lots of water involved.

[thackney]

Import it from where... Yemen... lol

I used to live in Yemen, not going to find a lot there, nor any real transportation ability to bring it north.

A lot of wheat is moved on ships.

http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Grain%20and%20Feed%20Annual_Riyadh_Saudi%20Arabia_3-14-2016.pdf

SAGO is the exclusive importer of food grade wheat in Saudi Arabia. The organization imports both
hard and soft wheat directly through public tenders open to registered international exporters and it does
not buy through grain brokers. SAGO has been buying wheat from various origins including the EU,
North America, South America and Australia. The organization imports wheat through two main ports,
the Jeddah Islamic Seaport on the Red Sea and the Dammam King Abdul Aziz Seaport on the Arabian
Gulf. SAGO has been making plans to increase the number of Saudi seaports that can receive imported
wheat to five by adding three smaller seaports in Diba, Jazan and Yanbu (all located on the Red Sea) by
2018. This year, SAGO will import some wheat through the port of Jazan.

[Fishrrman]

"Turmoil in Saudi water sector as country runs dry..."

The place is a desert.

What did they expect?

[Wingnut]

"Turmoil in Saudi water sector as country runs dry..."

The place is a desert.

What did they expect?

Muhammad to provide....