Presidential Mandate Speeds Desalinated Water Supply to Chlef, Mostaganem, Tlemcen

On 19 October 2026, Minister of Water Resources Lounès Bouzegza chaired a working meeting focused on the downstream connection projects for new seawater desalination plants. The meeting specifically addressed progress in the wilayas of Chlef, Mostaganem, and Tlemcen. This initiative was undertaken in direct implementation of instructions from the President of the Republic, who emphasized the urgent need to supply these three wilayas with desalinated seawater, recognizing them as priority areas for water security enhancement.

During the session, Minister Bouzegza stressed the importance of accelerating the completion of all necessary technical and organizational procedures. He also called for strengthening coordination among the various stakeholders involved to ensure that work on these crucial projects commences without delay and according to the established priorities. The presidential directives also outlined a broader, gradual approach for extending desalinated water technology to other wilayas, which will be contingent upon individual technical studies to assess local surface and groundwater resources before utilizing desalinated water as a complementary resource.

The Minister underscored that this file demands special attention due to its direct and significant impact on improving the drinking water supply for citizens, elevating the overall quality of public services, and bolstering national water security. This comprehensive strategy is designed to ensure a reliable and sustainable water future across Algeria. (Reporting by Omar Tadrist.)