27/10/2015

Water-Drop ENPI CBC MED Capitalization Seminar

Rome, 27th Oct 2015

Dr. Jauad El KharrazHead of Research The Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC)

Energy, Water & Food Security Nexus in the MENA region: Challenges & perspectives

Outline• What is MEDRC doing?• Overview of the region major challenges• Towards a nexus approach• Addressing challenges• Desalination potential• Renewable energy and virtual water • Examples of nexus solutions• Conclusions & recommendations

‐ A mechanism to tackle transboundary environmental issues in the context of a peace process: developing cooperative cross‐border projects & dialogue in the field of Middle East fresh water scarcity.‐ Provides the International Community with a replicable model to advance international cooperation in the context of significant regional or trans‐boundary challenges

MEDRC Strategic Plan

MEDRC – What is it?

The purpose of the Center shall be:

1. to contribute to the peace process in the Middle East and, 

2.  to raise the standard of living of the peoples of the Middle East 

and elsewhere by improving the technical processes involved in water desalination.

MEDRC Mission – Mandate?

MEDRC – Regional Program?

1. WaterRegional Program

Research• Humanitarian Challenge Initiatives• Emerging Opportunities – HABS / Seawater Intrusion• Facilitated Research Calls• Expert SymposiaTraining• Major regional R.O. Training Programme• Consultancy• Expert Events – Knowledge Exchange

Regional – R.O. Lab?• Focus on Energy Efficiency• Attempt to Mainstream Renewable 

Options • Water Reuse• Ensures Center Retains High Level of 

Expertise

MEDRC – Core Party Program?Research• Gaza Research Initiative• Emerging Opportunities Fund• MEDRC Scholars & Fellows• University Capacity Building• Trilateral Research Fund

Training• Trilateral Training Programme• Strategic Training Programme• Expert Technical Advisory Panel

Core Party ‐ PWA/MEDRC Partnership?2. Peace Core Party Program

Palestinian Minister for Water Palestinian Minister for Foreign Affairs

MEDRC: Figures?

1. MEDRC supported 169 water research projects 

(researchers from 34 countries) 

2. Master's and PhD water research fellowships awarded to 

115 regional nationals 

3. More than 300 publications

4. Countless expert workshops, knowledge transfer and 

capacity building programs across the MENA region.

0 10 20 30 40

Middle East & North Africa

South Asia

Western Europe

East Asia & Pacific (incl. Japan&Koreas)

Sub-Saharan Africa

Europe & Central Asia

North America

Latin America & Caribbean

Australia & New Zealand

1000 m^3 / year

MENA has the lowest per capita water resources worldwide…it’s dwindling fast! 

Annual renewable water resources per capitaSource: FAO AQUASTAT (2007)

a) Average annual renewable water resources for MENA (2007) was 1,200 m3/capita, compared to 7,000 m3/capita globally..

b) 14 out of the top 20 Water Scarce Countries are in MENA

c) Water scarcity will become a challenge to growth

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Water scarcity trend in MENA…scary!

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

1950 2000 2050

Cu

bic

me

ters

pe

r c

ap

ita

Source: Adapted from FAO, 2008

Renewable water availability per capita… projected to be less than 650 cubic meters per capita per 

annum by 2050

Since 1950, per-capita renewable water resources have fallen by about 75%

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…reality is also that the scarce water is managed and used less efficiently

1. Irrigation consumes 80% of water withdrawn region‐wide‐Water use efficiency in agriculture is low (< 50%)

2. Losses are also common in water supply systems‐ Leakages in the network are common (over 10‐30%)‐ High Unaccounted‐for Water (over 30‐40%)

3. Pervasive subsidies in energy and water sectors‐ Lead to overutilization of the scarce resource‐ Financially unsustainable systems

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Water and food security as major engines ofsustainable socio-economic development

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Food security?• Food security is about water

security• Getting the highest value

per drop of water• Wasting water, wasting food• Food security and over

exploitation of water• Specifically Oman, Saudi

Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen withdrew over 80% of their total water withdrawals for agriculture purposes in mid 2000`s

What does the future hold…..?WATER:Water deficit is projected to increase from 50 BCM per year today to 150- to 235BCM per year by 2050, based on the level of water use efficiency and wastewaterreuse adopted, 2/3 times the physical volume of the Nile River flow…scary!

ENERGY:Correspondingly, about 31 billion barrels of fuel is needed to desalinate about 150BCM of water per year by 2050 (e.g., KSA today uses > 1.5 million bbls/day fordesal)…not sustainable

Environmental impacts/GHG Emissions:Which corresponds to 9.6 GtC (gigatonnes of carbon) of CO2 emissions per year by2050….not sustainable (global good)

And food security…?60 % of food from irrigated agr. (21 Mha, consuming 251BCM+)• In some areas, fossil groundwater is being exploited for irrigation…not

sustainable…rainfed plays a good role but threatened by Climate Change.

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Global demand for energy, water & food

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Water–energy–food nexusBonn 2011

Islamabad, 2014Ankara, 2015

…….

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Economic Stability

Population Growth

Social welfare

Climate Change

Desertification

Urbanization

Water

FoodEnergy

Water‐ Energy‐ Food Nexus Framework For Action

The basic principle & obstacles of water nexus 

- Principle:Use Water in such a way to maximize the benefit of societies andpromote growthAllocate water, among water uses, in an efficient way thatmaximizes net benefits of societies and promote growth

- Obstacles:- Transboundary water resources- Different and outdated institutions in different countries

and regions- “Imperfect” water markets

Addressing the challenge requires multi-pronged approach

1. Demand side management:a) Strengthen institutions to support a move towards more efficient resource useb) Support policies that rationalize demand for water servicesc) Support investments in efficiency improvement

2. Supply Augmentation:a) Introduce/scale‐up technologies in desalination and reuseb) Support innovations in renewable energy (e.g., CSP)c) Support innovations in concentrate managementd) Support water quality protection and storage capacity, including aquifer

recharge…

Close the gap between projectedwater demand and supply

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Can implementation of the Water Nexus support economicgrowth in the MENA/Mediterranean region?

Desalination potential is on the rise in MENA

Forecasted Desalination Capacity (2008‐2016),  12 MENA countries are in the TOP 20 globally. ..and the trend is projected to continue beyond 2016with more MENA countries coming into picture, especially Egypt

Total contracted capacity of all desalinationplants

Amount of energy required to provide 1 m3 

Coping with water scarcity: Desalination

• In addition to efficient water management,wastewater treatment, water desalination is aanother option

• Desalination is an intensive-energy consumer• Desalination using renewable energy resources is

the most promising solution• This can help supply a share of water needs in a

sustainable manner

Renewable energies• The energy requirements for desalination can be

met through renewable energy,• Until recently, only small desalination plants use

renewable energy in the MENA/MED countries,• Desalination plants have operated successfully

using solar, wind or geothermal energy,• A huge solar energy potential of the MENA

countries

Coping with water scarcity: Virtual water Virtual water trade refers to the implicit exchange of

water content in the production of goods andservices traded among countries

This trade of virtual water, in which countries importfood supplies, effectively substitutes for water thatwould otherwise have been used in localproduction

Virtual water leads also to energy saving: reductionin withdrawal of irrigation water, reduction in thedesalination,…

Renewable energy and virtual water:win‐win approaches 

• Improve security of water supply,

• Limit the cost of access to water

• Limit the environmental impacts (of fossil energy),

• Have the potential to enhance economic growth,

• Enhance food security

Examples of solutions – 1: WWT for oil & fat industry

Examples of solutions – 1: WWT for oil & fat industry

Examples of solutions – 2: Water & Energy Advanced Management FOR Irrigation (WEAM4i project)

Examples of solutions – 2: Water & Energy Advanced Management FOR Irrigation (WEAM4i project)

Examples of solutions – 3: Regional Knowledge Network on Systemic Approaches to Water Resources Management (R‐KNOW) 

- RKNOW project (led by IUCN-ROWA) aspires to create aRegional Knowledge Network on Water that will assist instrengthening the application of systematic approaches towater management and governance in 5 countries (Lebanon,Jordan, Palestine, Morocco & Egypt). It also aims to influencepolicy and decision-making processes as means to enhancegood governance in the water sector (www.rknow.net )

- CEDARE supported by PHG are considered the maincentres of excellence on Water-Food-Energy Nexus

- A new Regional Collaborative Platform to address ‘waterconsumption’, ‘water productivity’ and ‘drought management’ inAgriculture” will be launched those days by FAO, AWC, ICBA...

Conclusions (1/2)We need to:

Understand the existing nature of the water-energy-food nexus,Estimate its impacts under various future scenarios,Identify robust policy options to improve energy, food & water

securityNexus can not be solved by the public sector alone: Intensivecooperation is required between private sector, public sector andknowledge sector.• A comprehensive strategy through a multidisciplinary

approach• Effective communication, negotiation, analysis, & participation

and harmonization of the work plans of various countries

Conclusions (2/2)A nexus approach can support the transition to Green Economy,

which aims, among other things, at resource use efficiency andgreater policy coherence

Innovative and affordable local actions contribute to improvedsocial, economic and environmental benefits

- Recommendations:• National Committees of relevant minis. for developing coherent plans• Official Platforms for public consultation/ Local Actions – Public and

Private sectors• Incorporate the Nexus approach into River Basin Management plans• Research and Development

Thank You

elkharraz@medrc.org