In July 2025 China signed a major contract with Iraq for the $2.4 billion Grand Basra Seawater Desalination Project. The Project is being financed through the Iraq–China Framework Agreement under the Belt and Road Initiative and represets a significant collaboration between Iraq and China under the BRI.
The project is the largest desalination project of its kind in the world, with a planned capacity of approximately 1.1 million cubic meters of water per day, aimed at addressing severe water shortages in the region. This positions it among the most significant desalination initiatives globally.
The project is being delivered by a consortium comprising Iraq’s Al-Ridha Group, Power China International and the Power Construction Corporation of China. The project is due to begin commercial operations in June 2028.
The desalination complex will include three reverse-osmosis treatment lines, each producing about 335,000 m³/day. The supporting infrastructure will feature 12 storage tanks with a combined capacity of one million cubic metres, a main pumping station, nine distribution receiving stations across Basra, and a 240-kilometre pipeline network. A dedicated 300-MW power plant will supply electricity to the facility, while temporary desalination units will provide drinking water during the construction phase.
The project timeline includes a six-month mobilisation phase, followed by 1,350 days of construction and a 24-month defect liability period..
Sources:
Flow Control, March 9, 2026. https://globalflowcontrol.com/…/iraq-advances-2-4b…/
Smart Water Magazine, March 4, 2026. https://smartwatermagazine.com/…/iraq-considers-iraqi…
