A desalinization facility capable of rendering 8.5 million cubic meters of drinkable water each year was opened today near the coastal Kibbutz Maagan Michael.
The desalinated water will cost $0.35 per cubic meter to produce and, after desalination, will be added to the National Water Carrier of Mekorot National Water Company. The water produced is estimated to cover about one third of Haifa’s annual water consumption.
Magan Desalination is a partnership between Ionics Water Resources and Kibbutz Maagan Michael – who run the plant.
Ionics Water Resources managing director Ami Yessodi told Globes that the plant, whose construction cost was estimated at $11 million, would operate using reverse osmosis technology. The BOO (build, operate, own) contract with the state lasts for fifteen years – after which the plant will belong to the company. Ionics Water Resources will provide the partnership with maintenance and operating services.
Yessodi stressed that this was the first desalination project in which private investors were selling desalinated water to the National Water Carrier. He added that the project could be extended to supply 15 million cubic meters of water to the National Water Carrier.
Minister of National Infrastructures Joseph Paritzky (Shinui) said that the plant was part of the ministry’s policy of encouraging competition in water production, while strengthening Mekorot as a provider of water transportation and reservoir services.
Israel consumes some two billion cubic meters of water each year, while its water supplies are replenished at a rate of approximately 1.8 billion cubic meters. This produces a yearly deficit of 200 million cubic meters.
Israel and Turkey signed a controversial water deal last month, in which Israel will buy 50 million cubic meters of fresh water from Turkey each year for the next 20 years. This plan is cheaper than the cost of desalinated water, but much more expensive then local water.
The desalinated water will cost $0.35 per cubic meter to produce and, after desalination, will be added to the National Water Carrier of Mekorot National Water Company. The water produced is estimated to cover about one third of Haifa’s annual water consumption.
Magan Desalination is a partnership between Ionics Water Resources and Kibbutz Maagan Michael – who run the plant.
Ionics Water Resources managing director Ami Yessodi told Globes that the plant, whose construction cost was estimated at $11 million, would operate using reverse osmosis technology. The BOO (build, operate, own) contract with the state lasts for fifteen years – after which the plant will belong to the company. Ionics Water Resources will provide the partnership with maintenance and operating services.
Yessodi stressed that this was the first desalination project in which private investors were selling desalinated water to the National Water Carrier. He added that the project could be extended to supply 15 million cubic meters of water to the National Water Carrier.
Minister of National Infrastructures Joseph Paritzky (Shinui) said that the plant was part of the ministry’s policy of encouraging competition in water production, while strengthening Mekorot as a provider of water transportation and reservoir services.
Israel consumes some two billion cubic meters of water each year, while its water supplies are replenished at a rate of approximately 1.8 billion cubic meters. This produces a yearly deficit of 200 million cubic meters.
Israel and Turkey signed a controversial water deal last month, in which Israel will buy 50 million cubic meters of fresh water from Turkey each year for the next 20 years. This plan is cheaper than the cost of desalinated water, but much more expensive then local water.