ERBIL — The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources has reportedly invited a number of international companies to build a dam on the Shatt al-Arab waterway, in efforts to help reduce salinity in the river.
The international firms invited to bid included Energoprojekt of Serbia, Hydronova of Italy, and Deltares from the Netherlands, according to Economy News.
The Iraqi government has allocated funding of 4.7 billion Iraqi dinars ($3.2 million) to the project, the report added, noting that bids should be submitted by 5th September.
The UN has previously warned that increasing water scarcity in south of Iraq has caused low river water levels, reduced water flow, and an extended 'saline tongue' up the Shatt Al Arab river.
Iraq mainly relys on water flowing from from Iran and Turkey. The two neighboring countries have reduced their water flows to Iraq over the past few years.