Algeria Boosts Water Security with Desalination Projects, Aiming for 67% Potable Water Coverage by 2030
Takeaway
International investors should monitor the progress of Algeria's desalination projects, as they present opportunities for companies specializing in water treatment technologies, infrastructure development, and renewable energy integration. The Algerian government's commitment to increasing desalination capacity signals a long-term market for these services, particularly for firms with expertise in reverse osmosis and energy-efficient desalination solutions. Companies should also consider partnerships with local Algerian firms to navigate the regulatory landscape and access local expertise.
Algeria is aggressively pursuing desalination to combat water scarcity, with plans to cover 67% of its drinking water needs through desalination by 2030, up from 47% currently. As part of this strategy, Minister of Water Resources, Taha Derbal, inspected water supply services in Algiers and Tipaza on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, visiting the SIAL (Société des Eaux et de l'Assainissement d'Alger) company. He reviewed daily distribution points and storage facilities via a remote control center, expressing satisfaction with the service provided to citizens. However, some municipalities like Bougara, Hammam Melouane, and areas in the wilaya of Blida are experiencing fluctuations in water distribution.
Algeria, located in a semi-arid zone, faces significant water stress, with a national water potential of 18 billion cubic meters per year, equating to a per capita endowment of 420 cubic meters per year. This is far below the World Bank's theoretical scarcity threshold of 1,000 cubic meters per inhabitant per year. This figure is projected to fall below 300 cubic meters per year by 2050 due to population growth and climate change. To address this, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has launched a program to increase national desalinated seawater production to 5.6 million cubic meters per day by 2030.
State-owned Sonatrach is overseeing the construction of three large-scale seawater desalination plants in Tlemcen, Chlef, and Mostaganem. Each plant will have a production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters per day. Cosider Canalisation will construct the Tlemcen plant in Ain Adjroud, Marsa Benmhidi; the National Company for Major Petroleum Works will build the Chlef facility in Dahra, El Marsa; and the Algerian Industrial Projects Company will handle the Mostaganem plant in Sidi Ladjel, El Khadra. These projects form the first phase of a larger national program that includes the construction of six large-scale seawater desalination plants across the country.
The desalination projects are expected to generate numerous direct and indirect jobs during construction and operation, while also fostering training initiatives and developing national expertise in seawater desalination. The Algerian Energy Company (AEC), a subsidiary of Sonatrach Group, is managing the National Complementary Program for Seawater Desalination, aiming to increase the share of desalinated water in the national supply network from 18% to around 42%. This program represents an investment exceeding $3 billion USD. In February 2026, President Tebboune also ordered the construction of desalination plants for brackish water in Tamanrasset and Tindouf, located in the Sahara Desert, where underground aquifers are experiencing irreversible salinization.
Looking ahead, five new dams are set to enter service in 2026 in the provinces of Souk Ahras, Khenchela, Tizi Ouzou, El Tarf, and Annaba, increasing the total number of dams nationwide to 86. The government is also focused on improving water distribution, as evidenced by Minister Derbal's inspection of SIAL. Continued monitoring of water distribution in municipalities like those in Blida will be crucial to ensure equitable access. The success of these projects hinges on efficient management, advanced technologies, and addressing environmental concerns like brine disposal.