Electricity Minister highlights Bahrain’s efforts in water resource management
Dushanbe, June 11 (BNA): Yasser bin Ibrahim Humaidan, Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs, headed Bahrain’s delegation at the Third High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development" 2018 – 2028.
The conference was organised by Tajikistan, in cooperation with the United Nations (UN), taking place from June 10 to June 13 in Dushanbe.
In his opening address at the conference, Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan, highlighted the significance of the event and underscored the importance of collective international efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources.
For his part, the minister underscored Bahrain’s commitment to participating in this international conference and emphasised the need for collective international action to ensure the sustainable management of water resources for the benefit of current and future generations.
He highlighted the Kingdom’s various initiatives that leverage advanced technological solutions to achieve sustainable water management, as part of Bahrain’s national efforts to reach carbon neutrality by the year 2060.
During the discussion, the minister said that Bahrain has started implementing a sustainable energy transformation plan, which involves investing in renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions.
The minister said that the Water Resources Council (WRC) was established to develop laws that protect water resources, adding that efforts were underway to develop policies for the water sector. He noted that this includes drafting legislation to support the implementation of best practices in water desalination, achieve development goals and ensure sustainable water supplies in all situations.
The minister highlighted the Kingdom's success in meeting the highest international standards for providing water to all populated areas, through the strategic use of water desalination techniques and efficient water resource management. This approach effectively addressed the growing demand for water resources, driven by rapid population and economic growth.
Humaidan said that Bahrain has implemented large-scale energy efficiency initiatives in its desalination and water sectors to support the environment.
The minister emphasised that Bahrain's sustainable social and economic groundwater management strategy focuses on optimising the use of non-renewable groundwater resources to preserve water levels and quality.
He underscored the importance of integrating renewable energy into water transmission and distribution stations.
The conference aims to promote the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development" 2018 – 2028, enhance integrated management of water resources, and support the implementation of sustainable development goals, particularly those related to water.
The conference also aims to mobilise the collective efforts of governments, United Nations institutions, international organisations, and non-governmental entities to implement the Decade's action plan and achieve international water-related goals.
