The Med-Dead (Red-Dead) Canal: Israel-Jordan Water and Energy Project Explained

The Med-Dead Canal (also called the Red-Dead Canal) is a proposed mega-project to connect the Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba) to the Dead Sea, jointly pursued by Jordan and Israel. Its goals are threefold: stabilize the shrinking Dead Sea, generate hydroelectric power, and produce desalinated water for the arid region.

Core Components

1. Seawater Intake – Pumping stations on the Gulf of Aqaba.
2. Canal/Pipeline – A conveyance system running through the Arava Valley (Jordan/Israel border).
3. Hydroelectric Plants – Exploiting the ~420-meter elevation drop to generate electricity.
4. Desalination Facilities – Producing fresh water for agriculture and municipal use in both countries.

Potential Benefits

• Slows Dead Sea decline (losing ~1 meter/year).
• Provides renewable energy.
• Addresses severe water scarcity in Jordan and southern Israel.

Major Concerns

• Environmental impact on Red Sea coral reefs and Dead Sea unique chemistry.
• Seismic risks in the active Jordan Rift Valley.
• High cost and complex binational governance.
• Brine discharge altering Dead Sea salinity and biology.

Feasibility studies and pilot phases have been conducted, but full implementation remains stalled due to political, financial, and environmental hurdles.