Chlef, Algeria – Sonatrach has commenced construction of a major seawater desalination plant in Dhahra, Chlef province. The launch ceremony, held Saturday, was overseen by Sonatrach CEO Noureddine Daoudi, in the presence of the Governor of Chlef, Ibrahim Ghmired, the CEO of Algerian Water Desalination Company (Hassi), Lahcen Bada, and the CEO of the National Company of Major Petroleum Works (ENGTP), Maamri Benyoucef, along with local authorities and security representatives.
This project aligns with the second supplementary national program, initiated by the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to enhance water security through the construction of large-scale desalination plants in Chlef, Mostaganem, and Tlemcen. Each plant is projected to have a production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters per day.
The Dhahra plant, located in El Marsa municipality, will ensure a sustainable supply of potable water for over three million residents across the provinces of Chlef, Medea, Ain Defla, and Tissemsilt, covering a geographical area spanning 150 to 250 kilometers. The construction project has been entrusted to the National Company of Major Petroleum Works (ENGTP), under the supervision of the Algerian Water Desalination Company (Hassi), both subsidiaries of Sonatrach. This underscores Sonatrach’s commitment to supporting strategic projects with significant social and economic impact.
The project will create a considerable number of jobs during both the construction and operational phases. Furthermore, it will support training programs and the development of national expertise in the field of seawater desalination. This initiative represents a pivotal step in the national vision to increase desalinated water production to 5.6 million cubic meters per day by 2030, thereby strengthening sustainable water security and meeting the social and economic development needs of various regions across the country.
The launch of this project reflects Sonatrach’s ongoing commitment to accelerating the transition towards lasting water security and building an infrastructure capable of addressing future challenges and ensuring the sustainability of vital resources. This initiative is expected to significantly contribute to Algeria’s long-term water independence.
