ALGERIA – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune laid foundation stones for two seawater desalination plants, Cap Djinet and Fouka 2, in Boumerdès and Tipaza, implemented by Algeria Energy Company (AEC). The plants, constructed on 16 and 7-hectare sites, will be equipped with ten seawater desalination units based on reverse osmosis principles by the national civil engineering and construction company (GCB) and the national company for major well works (GTP), supervised by AEC subsidiary Miah Cap Djinet. Cap Djinet, with a capacity of 300,000 m3/d, aims to provide drinking water to 3 million people in Boumerdès and Algiers, with delivery scheduled for December 2024. Tebboune also laid the foundation stone for Fouka 2, mirroring Cap Djinet's size, to supply drinking water to 3 million people in the western part of Tipaza wilaya and part of Blida wilaya by 2025. These plants are part of a larger initiative to construct five seawater desalination plants in multiple wilayas, contributing to a total capacity of 1.5 million m3 per day, increasing Algeria's desalination share in drinking water production from 17% to 42%, with the country currently operating 14 seawater desalination plants. (Afrik21)
DJIBOUTI – The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a $93.22 million loan to Djibouti's government for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment projects in the capital, Djibouti. The loan, repayable over 25 years, is part of the Global Gateway, a European strategy focusing on digital, energy, and transport sectors, as well as health, education, and research systems globally. The financing will support the extension of the Doraleh seawater desalination plant, increasing its capacity from 22,500 m3 to 45,000 m3/d, serving 555,000 people when completed. The project includes the construction of a 12 MWp photovoltaic solar power plant to supply the desalination plant, with Eiffage and Tedagua operating the facilities for five years. Additionally, the EIB loan will contribute to extending the capacity of wastewater treatment plants in Doraleh, Balbala, and Douda, aiming to improve water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Djibouti. (Afrik21)
MOROCCO – Morocco's phosphate and fertilizer company, OCP, has signed a memorandum of understanding and a concession contract with the government to collaborate on providing potable water through seawater desalination to the Safi and El Jadida regions. Under the agreement, OCP will desalinate and supply 232,876 m3/d from 2023 to 2025 and 301,369 m3/d in a second phase from 2026. In the current year, OCP will provide 27,397 m3/d drinking water for Safi and 82,191 m3/d for El Jadida. The desalination concession agreement with OCP Green Water aims to address water stress in the Safi and El Jadida regions, providing desalinated seawater at a competitive price. The agreements aim to address water scarcity issues and preserve the water source of the Oum-Er-Rbia hydraulic basin. (The North Africa Post)
OCP to help improve drinking water supply for Safi, El Jadida regions, Morocco. Credit: The North Africa Post
SAUDI ARABIA – During the Hajj season in Makkah and Madinah, the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) has deployed floating desalination barges, engineered, designed, developed, and commissioned by water and wastewater management specialist Metito. With over 1.6 million pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, the floating desalination barges were mobilized to ensure an uninterrupted supply of potable water. Metito delivered three desalination barges, each with a capacity of 50,000 m3/d, making it the largest operating plant of its kind globally. (ME Construction News)
INDIA – The Public Works Department (PWD) in Puducherry is planning to establish a 1,000 m3/d desalination plant on a pilot basis, costing around $3.3 million, to address the depleting groundwater sources and increasing drinking water demands in the urban agglomeration. A team from the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) will conduct a techno-feasibility study and provide technical advice for the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Currently, Puducherry relies on over 100 deep tube-wells for water supply, and the desalination plant is planned to be set up on 2.5 acres of land in the city limits, with the capacity to upscale in the future. If approved, the plant could be operational within the next seven months. (The Hindu)
IRAQ – Iraq has allocated funds for a new sea desalination plant as part of its three-year record budget approved by parliament in June. The 2023 budget includes investments of nearly $35 billion for various projects, including the desalination plant, a petrochemical complex in Basra, and a rail and road link with Turkey. The desalination unit in Basra received an allocation of $305 million. (ZAWYA)
TUNISIA – Tunisia's National water exploitation and distribution company (SONEDE) is investing $23.8 million in water supply projects in Tataouine to ensure water security during the summer. The funding will be used for projects such as drinking water supply systems, including boreholes, storage facilities, and distribution networks, to prevent water shortages during heatwaves. The Zarat seawater desalination plant, being built by Va Tech Wabag, is expected to have a capacity of 50,000 m3/d, delivering water to reservoirs in Gabès, Médenine, and Tataouine. (Afrik21)