29.Rossiyskaya gazeta Water: the new strategic resource?

Rossiyskaya gazeta

Water: the new strategic resource?

August 19, 2010.

Rossiyskaya gazeta

Water: the new strategic resource?

Analysts are seriously discussing the possibility of wars and conflicts over water resources. Climate change has generated a new term: water security.

The increasing deficiency of potable water sources has caused a dangerous new phenomenon: water migration. In the past year alone, over 20 million people around the world have left regions with ongoing water shortages. Water shortage is a problem in countries bordering on Russia's southern regions. Is Russia threatened by the global water shortage problem? The Russian Security Council has discussed these concerns with leading climate experts.

Over 700 million people around the world consistently experience "water stress" and water shortage, according to UN data. About one-sixth of the planet's population has no access to potable water. Whereas energy security is seen as one of the key global problems today, climate change will certainly make water security the primary concern.

About one-fifth of all global potable water reserves are concentrated in Russia. Yet, Russia is also experiencing problems; problems with the use of water resources. Russia's National Security Strategy Until 2020 includes a section on the potential shortage of water resources. Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said that in 2009, only 38% of Russian cities and towns had stable supplies of potable water, that is, water that meets safety standards. To deal with water use problems, Russia has adopted a Water Use Strategy until 2020.

Analysts believe Russia could become a major player in international water trading. For example, there is a plan to build a canal from Siberia to Central Asia to relieve the growing water crisis in that region. However, no serious economic rationale for the project has been presented, and its economic efficiency remains questionable.

Experts believe that in the near future there will be a growing demand, not for water as a commodity, but for products manufactured with water consuming facilities. Prices of such products will inevitably go up as water deficiency grows. For example, the production of 1 metric ton of nitric acid requires 80-180 cubic meters of fresh water, and cotton fabrics, up to 1,100 cu m.

Russia has undeniable advantages and potential to become a major player on this market. Apart from its vast water resources, Russia has all the other prerequisites for setting up water consuming production facilities. The price of products manufactured by such facilities is bound to grow.