NAPAC 2025: Algeria’s Desalination Projects Attract Wide International Attention – OpEd
Algeria’s seawater desalination projects have drawn significant international attention during the NAPAC 2025 Exhibition and Conference, one of the region’s leading events in the fields of energy and water.
During the event, the Algerian Energy Company (AEC) — a subsidiary of Sonatrach Group — presented details of the National Complementary Program for Seawater Desalination, which aims to ensure national water security and support the country’s sustainable energy transition.
The program includes the construction of six new desalination plants along the Algerian coast, with a total production capacity of 1.8 million cubic meters per day, while relying on solar energy to cover around 35% of operational needs.
Four new desalination plants have already been inaugurated in Oran, Tipaza, Boumerdès, and El Tarf, while the Béjaïa (Tigremt) plant has successfully completed its testing phase and is preparing to enter full operation soon. These five facilities constitute the backbone of Algeria’s national desalination program, which aims to ensure long-term water security and meet the growing demand for drinking water in major coastal cities.
According to official estimates, the program will raise the share of desalinated water in the national supply network from 18% currently to around 42% in the coming years, with total investments exceeding 3 billion USD.
The Algerian pavilion at NAPAC 2025 attracted strong interest from international delegations coming from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Gulf region, who expressed particular admiration for Algeria’s model that combines desalination with renewable energy. Many experts considered the Algerian experience a regional benchmark in integrating water security and energy transition.
Despite these achievements, specialists stressed the need to continue efforts to treat brine discharge, reduce energy costs, and build national expertise in the operation and maintenance of the new desalination plants.
These projects highlight Algeria’s steady progress toward achieving both water and energy security, within a comprehensive national vision to address environmental and climate challenges in the Mediterranean region.
Madjed Sakhri
Madjed Sakhri is an Algerian journalist with Iktisad Elbaled, specializing in trade, agriculture, and economic development. He writes extensively on Algeria's strategic opportunities in global markets and regional trade dynamics.
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