Algeria water desalination investments are approaching $8 billion as the government accelerates projects aimed at strengthening the country’s long-term water security and ensuring reliable drinking water supplies. The announcement was made Sunday by Mouloud Hachlaf, assistant to the CEO of the Algerian Water Desalination Company, during an appearance on national radio’s “L’invité du matin” program.
According to the official, the investments form part of a broader national strategy designed to anticipate growing water demand and reinforce infrastructure across the country. The initiative focuses heavily on desalination technology as a key solution for ensuring stable water production.
The first supplementary program allocated approximately $2.4 billion to the sector. An additional $1 billion was committed during the first phase of the second supplementary program.
When combined with all ongoing projects in the sector, the total investment in water production and desalination infrastructure now stands at nearly $8 billion.
National authorities have structured Algeria water desalination investments around three major strategic pillars designed to develop both infrastructure and industrial capabilities.
The first pillar focuses on carrying out large-scale projects primarily through domestic companies. Algerian firms have already demonstrated their capacity to deliver major infrastructure projects, and authorities aim to expand local subcontracting to strengthen the national industrial ecosystem.
The second pillar addresses the operation and maintenance of desalination plants. Algeria plans to cooperate with international partners to benefit from advanced technologies and specialized expertise in desalination and water treatment.
The third pillar seeks to build a strong national industrial base dedicated to desalination technologies. The government aims to establish partnerships with global companies under “win-win” agreements to localize the manufacturing of key equipment within Algeria.
This approach is intended to reduce reliance on a small number of countries and multinational corporations that currently dominate the desalination technology market.
These large-scale investments are driven by rapidly rising water demand across the country.
The agricultural sector alone consumes roughly 70 percent of Algeria’s available water resources, mainly for irrigation. At the same time, demand for drinking water from households and industry continues to grow.
Authorities are therefore calculating the production capacities required for desalination plants that will supply cities and industrial zones. This planning is being coordinated between the Ministry of Hydraulics and the Algerian Water Company.
Population growth is also a major factor shaping the country’s water strategy. Algeria’s population increases by nearly one million inhabitants each year, placing additional pressure on existing water resources.
Urban expansion and economic development are further increasing water demand, prompting authorities to accelerate investment in desalination infrastructure.
In October, the President of the Republic announced the launch of a second complementary program that includes the construction of six new desalination plants.
These facilities will be built in several provinces in both eastern and western Algeria. The projects will follow the same strategy used in earlier programs, relying heavily on national companies such as subsidiaries of the Sonatrach Group and the Cosider Group.
Construction preparations have already begun. Initial work includes site preparation, engineering studies, and the opening of construction sites.
Authorities estimate that the new plants could be completed within approximately 26 months once technical studies are finalized.
Alongside these major infrastructure projects, Algeria is also introducing innovative solutions to address water challenges in remote regions.
In southern areas where groundwater contains high levels of salinity, supplying potable water remains particularly difficult. To address this issue, authorities are developing mobile desalination units housed in transportable shipping containers.
These modular facilities can be quickly deployed to regions facing water shortages. Production capacity typically ranges between 2,500 and 3,000 cubic meters of water per day, although some units may reach up to 50,000 cubic meters per day.
Another advantage of these systems is their ability to operate using renewable energy sources, improving both efficiency and sustainability.
With population growth accelerating and climate pressures intensifying across North Africa, Algeria’s large-scale desalination investments are expected to play an increasingly central role in securing the country’s long-term water supply.
Sami B. is the founder and editor of Algeria News Gate, an independent English-language platform covering Algeria’s political, economic, and business developments. Based in Europe, he reports on official announcements, economic trends, and international relations involving Algeria.