Mid-East water in the pipeline

Kuwait, like many desert countries, relies on desalination plants

By the BBC's Stephen Gibbs

Plans to build one of the world's most ambitious fresh water pipelines are expected to be unveiled in London on Thursday.

Designed as a radical solution to the water shortage problems of the Gulf, the 540km (335 miles) long project will carry water from the Karkheh dam in northern Iran, to the coast of southern Kuwait.

Costing about $2bn, the pipeline is being built by a consortium of European, Arab, and Japanese companies. About 330 km (205 miles) of the pipeline will run across Iranian territory, the rest under the sea.

According to initial agreements, Iran will eventually supply about 200 million litres of drinking water a day to Kuwait, at a price 20% cheaper than that offered by desalination plants.

Water problem

The deal is a sign of Iran's rapprochement with its neighbours. But it is not without controversy.

One of the advantages is that it will enable Kuwait to rely less heavily on desalination, which is believed to be causing environmental damage to its coastline.

But some claim that the pipeline will simply divert the problem - by putting excessive strain on the water supply of northern Iran.

Either way, the progress of this project will be closely watched. Diminishing water reserves in the entire Middle East region are seen by many as a potential source of conflict.