On January 30, 2024, the launching ceremony of the Pearl River Delta Water Resources Allocation Project, one of the backbone projects of the national water network, was convened in Gaoxinsha Reservoir in Guangdong province. Mr. Huang Kunming, Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, announced its operation. Mr. Li Guoying, Minister of Water Resources, and Mr. Wang Weizhong, Governor of Guangdong province, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches.

Li Guoying pointed out that the project is a significant achievement to practice President Xi Jinping’s water governance philosophy of “prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches, and giving full play to the roles of both government and market” and “the National Water Network Construction Plan”. As a major measure for improving the overall development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the well-being of its people, this project is of great significance in ensuring water, economic and ecological security of the Area. After the project was put into operation, it is imperative to strengthen precise scheduling and improve the economical and intensive use of water resources. Endeavors shall be made in strengthening project operation management, enhancing digitization, network-based and IT application of project facilities, so as to achieve its economic, social and ecological benefits. Eventually, it will guarantee water security and boost the high-quality development of the Area.

As a pivotal water project of the 14^th National Five-Year Plan, the Pearl River Delta Water Resources Allocation Project is a water allocation project with the largest investment, the longest water transmission route and the broadest water receiving area in Guangdong province. With a total length of 113.2 km and a total investment of 35.4 billion RMB, the project boasts of an annual water supply capacity of 1.708 billion m³. It will effectively solve the problem of water shortage in cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Dongguan, and render an emergency backup water source for Hong Kong as well as cities of Panyu and Shunde in Guangdong province, thus benefiting approximately 32 million people and reserving ecological water in the Dongjiang River Basin.

Source: INTCE