(Yicai Global) Aug. 10 -- China has given the nod to a huge project worth CNY33.9 billion (USD5 billion) to transfer water to the southern Pearl River Delta region via pipeline.

The country will build a 113 kilometer-long pipeline starting from the Xi River in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to bring water to the neighboring southern bay area covering the economic powerhouse province of Guangdong as well as Hong Kong and Macau, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement.

With construction taking 60 months, the project will provide 17 billion cubic meters of water each year. The government will inject CNY3.4 billion directly into the plan.  

Serving as a strategic support for the development of the southern region, the project will address water shortage issues in the cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen and provide emergency water for Hong Kong.

The scheme has been in the works for nearly 10 years and was included as a key water-saving project in official policy documents covering plans from 2012 to 2030.

Editor: William Clegg