Israel to build world’s biggest seawater desalination plant

JERUSALEM - Israel is planning to build the world’s largest seawater desalination plant, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

The 300,000-sq-metre Sorek desalination facility, to be constructed near the coastal city of Ashkelon, will supply 150 million cubic metres annually, a quarter of the country’s needs, Xinhua reported citing a statement released by Netanyahu’s office Sunday.

The Israeli cabinet discussed the desalination plant and related infrastructure projects, including connecting Israeli army bases to a wastewater treatment network, the statement said.

Israel inaugurated a reverse osmosis facility located near Hadera city in May, which could supply drinking water to a million people.