Water, the Middle East imperative

1 total work

The Euphrates River and the Southeast Anatolia Development Project

by John F. Kolars and William A. Mitchell

Published 26 November 1991

This book makes clear that water, not oil, is the key to the future of the Middle East. The Southeast Anatolia Development Project (SEAP) begun by Turkey will irrigate over 1.7 million hectares of new land, double its energy production, and provide agricultural surpluses that Turkey hopes to sell to its Arab neighbors.

When SEAP is in full operation, however, the downstream nations will be faced with a greatly reduced flow of water of altered quality in the Euphrates. The war with Iraq has intensified the political significance of the project.