Minister of State, Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, received Turki bin Saeed Al-Amri, CEO of the Saudi Abunayyan Holding Company, on Tuesday at the ministry’s headquarters.
According to a ministry statement, the two sides discussed cooperation and investment opportunities in seawater desalination and related infrastructure as part of the national desalination program. They also explored ways for experienced companies to contribute to strategic projects launched by Algeria to enhance its water security, within the framework of the distinguished relations between Algeria and Saudi Arabia.
During the meeting, the Minister provided an overview of the national seawater desalination program, which is being implemented under the directives of the President of the Republic. The program aims to build new desalination plants to cover approximately 62% of the national drinking water needs from sources other than groundwater.
This program focuses on ensuring water security and supplying high-population areas and the High Plateaus, with a requirement to distribute desalinated water at least 250 kilometers from the coast.
In this context, the expertise of WETICO, a subsidiary of Abunayyan Holding, was highlighted. The company has previously participated in the construction of several desalination plants in Algeria, notably in Bejaia, El Tarf, and Cap Djinet, reflecting the existing level of cooperation and accumulated experience in this vital field.
For his part, the CEO of Abunayyan Holding confirmed the group’s interest in strengthening its industrial presence in Algeria. He expressed a desire to localize the manufacturing of equipment used in seawater desalination, particularly desalination membranes, along with other components and equipment related to the water production and desalination chain.
He also noted that Abunayyan Group’s activities include oil and gas industry equipment and infrastructure, expressing the group’s readiness to study technology transfer opportunities and develop local industrial partnerships. This aligns with Algeria’s objectives to increase national integration rates and strengthen the industrial fabric in these strategic sectors.
