Tlemcen Launches Major Seawater Desalination Plant to Address Water Security
The construction of a Seawater Desalination Plant (SDEM) at An Adjroud beach in Marsa Ben M’hidi, Tlemcen, was officially launched this Saturday, November 8th. The ceremony was attended by Sonatrach CEO Noureddine Daoudi, Algerian Water Desalination Company (EADE) CEO Lahcen Bada, and local authorities.
Strategic National Program
According to Mouloud Hachlaf, Deputy CEO of EADE, this facility forms part of a complementary program approved by the Council of Ministers last October. The initiative, chaired by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, will establish three SDEMs in Tlemcen, Mostaganem, and Chlef, each with a daily production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters.
The 15-hectare plant, awarded to hydraulic infrastructure specialist Cosider Canalisations, will produce 300,000 m³ of water daily. This output will supply drinking water to approximately 3 million residents across Tlemcen and neighboring regions.
Economic Impact and Timeline
Utilizing reverse osmosis technology, the project is expected to create 1,500 jobs during construction, with 100 permanent positions remaining after completion. The first phase, delivering 150,000 m³ per day, is scheduled for commissioning within 22 months.
Sonatrach CEO Noureddine Daoudi emphasized that “this project implements President Tebboune’s decisions to resolve drinking water shortages in western wilayas.” He confirmed that similar plants will soon launch in Chlef and Mostaganem.
National Water Security Strategy
This complementary program strengthens water security in Western Algeria by reducing dependence on surface and groundwater resources. It aligns with the national strategy targeting 5.6 million m³/day of desalinated water production by 2030.
The launch follows the recent commissioning of five seawater desalination plants in El-Tarf, Bejaa, Boumerdes, Tipaza, and Oran, all ordered by President Tebboune earlier this year.