Seawater to the Rescue of Algeria: The Challenge of Desalination
In response to the ongoing decline in rainfall and the adverse effects of climate change, Algeria has turned to seawater desalination as a critical measure to secure its water resources. Projections for 2050 indicate that rainfall in Algeria and the broader North African region could decrease by as much as 20%.
Algeria has established 25 desalination plants to address these challenges, positioning itself as a leader in this domain across Africa. These facilities provide a vital source of drinking water for major urban centers and coastal regions while also supporting the agricultural and industrial sectors, both of which are highly water-dependent. As part of its supplementary program, Algeria aims to have seawater desalination account for 42% of its drinking water supply, with projections suggesting an increase to 60% in the medium term. This strategy is pivotal in ensuring water security across the country. Despite the high costs and energy demands of the desalination process, it is now regarded as a key component in safeguarding Algeria’s water resources and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Water Situation in Algeria
Algeria faces significant challenges in managing its water resources. The country’s total water resources are estimated at 19.4 billion m³, of which only 75% is renewable. These resources are derived primarily from surface water (60%) and groundwater (15%).
Surface water, totaling 12.7 billion m³, is distributed across 17 river basins, which fall into three main categories: coastal basins linked to the Mediterranean Sea, the High Plains, and the Saharan basins. Groundwater resources, estimated at 9.3 billion m³, are primarily located in northern aquifers and Saharan basins. However, their recharge is constrained by limited natural renewal.
Algeria has accessible water resources of approximately 17.25 billion m³, which is insufficient to meet the country’s growing needs. The principal source of these resources is precipitation, which generates about 13.5 billion m³ of surface runoff annually, supplemented by 4.36 billion m³ from groundwater.
Despite these resources, Algeria is among the 20 most water-stressed countries in the world. Since 1990, the situation has deteriorated, placing the nation in the category of countries with critically low water resources. Current per capita water availability is below 600 m³ per year, far below the World Bank’s recommended minimum threshold of 1,000 m³ per year to ensure basic water security.
Seawater Desalination: An Essential Solution
Desalination has emerged as a critical response to Algeria’s escalating water scarcity. The challenges are exacerbated by significant coastal development, with the majority of the population and economic activities concentrated along the country’s 1,200 km coastline. The Mediterranean Sea presents favorable conditions for desalination. Its average temperature of 19°C and moderate salinity levels facilitate more cost-effective water extraction and enhance the operational efficiency of desalination plants. These advantages position seawater desalination as a practical and strategic solution to Algeria’s pressing water challenges.
Algeria has embraced reverse osmosis technology for its desalination facilities, a method that has become the global standard. Technological advancements have led to the development of more efficient and durable membranes, significantly lowering production costs. Currently, the cost of producing one cubic meter of desalinated water is less than 0.5 euros, making it an economically viable solution to address the nation’s water needs. The Algerian government subsidizes the cost of drinking water, enabling citizens to pay only around 6 DA (0.041 euros) per cubic meter for the first quarterly consumption bracket. However, these rates do not represent the actual costs of water production and distribution, which vary depending on the user category and quarterly consumption levels.
Expansion of Desalination Infrastructure in Algeria
By the end of 2024, Algeria is expected to have 19 operational seawater desalination plants. Currently, 11 plants have been commissioned along the coastline, collectively producing 2.11 million cubic meters of water per day.
As part of an emergency initiative, three additional plants have been completed, each with a production capacity of 70,000 cubic meters per day. These include the Bateau Cassé and El Mersa plants in the Algiers, and the Corso plant in the Boumerdès, which is nearing completion and is set to increase production by an additional 80,000 cubic meters per day.
Launched in 2022, a complementary program involves the construction of 11 new desalination plants, with five located in El-Tarf, Béjaïa, Boumerdès, Tipaza, and Oran. Construction progress on these five facilities has reached 70%. The Béjaïa plant, situated in Tighremt, is expected to become operational by December 2024, underscoring the steadfast commitment of Algerian teams to achieving these milestones.
Managed by the Algerian Energy Company (AEC), a subsidiary of the Sonatrach Group, ongoing desalination projects aim to increase drinking water production to 3.76 million cubic meters per day by 2030. This target could meet up to 60% of the population’s water needs, a crucial objective given the current water crisis.
Currently, these projects are in the equipment acceptance and installation phase, a critical stage preceding the testing and pre-commissioning of the infrastructure. This phase is vital to ensure the plants will meet the growing demand for water, driven by demographic pressure and increasing needs.
It should also be noted that a second emergency program calls for the construction of six new desalination plants. The General Manager of the Algerian Energy Company (AEC) stated that this plan would bring the total number of desalination plants to 25 by 2030. This additional program has been entrusted to Algerian companies, including four subsidiaries of the Sonatrach Group and COSIDER Canalisation. He further explained that the completion of the emergency and supplementary programs would increase the total drinking water production capacity from 2.11 million to 3.76 million cubic meters per day.
The expansion of the facilities, which will cover 300 to 400 hectares of land compared with the current 15 to 16 hectares, will require optimization studies. The AEC team is working to identify coastal sites for the installation of temporary solutions, in order to select the most suitable options.
It was also highlighted that desalination is a capital-intensive industry, due to the high cost of the technology and the substantial energy consumption required to convert seawater into drinking water. To reduce the energy impact, it is planned that the plants’ electricity supply will come from renewable sources.
According to Mohamed Boutabba, Managing Director of the Algerian Energy Company (AEC), “these mega-projects are of strategic importance, as they will increase desalinated seawater mobilization capacities to 42%.”
In late October, the Sonatrach Group received a new shipment of equipment for the seawater desalination plants, following an initial delivery in September. A major air logistics operation was organized to transport the equipment to the five main plants. More recently, a 79-tonne consignment of mobile equipment was delivered to Houari-Boumediene International Airport and received by the Algerian Energy Company (AEC) and Société Algérienne de Réalisation de Projets Industriels (SARPI).
It should also be noted that a second emergency program calls for the construction of six new desalination plants. The General Manager of the Algerian Energy Company (AEC) stated that this plan would bring the total number of desalination plants to 25 by 2030. This additional program has been entrusted to Algerian companies, including four subsidiaries of the Sonatrach Group and COSIDER Canalisation. He further explained that the completion of the emergency and supplementary programs would increase the total drinking water production capacity from 2.11 million to 3.76 million cubic meters per day.
The expansion of the facilities, which will cover 300 to 400 hectares of land compared with the current 15 to 16 hectares, will require optimization studies. The AEC team is working to identify coastal sites for the installation of temporary solutions, in order to select the most suitable options.
It was also highlighted that desalination is a capital-intensive industry, due to the high cost of the technology and the substantial energy consumption required to convert seawater into drinking water. To reduce the energy impact, it is planned that the plants’ electricity supply will come from renewable sources.
While desalination holds promise as a remedy for water scarcity, it also poses considerable difficulties. The initial installation costs are steep, and the energy demands of desalination plants remain substantial. To address these issues, Algerian authorities emphasize the need to make the industry more sustainable by incorporating renewable energy sources. This strategy aims to reduce the facilities’ carbon footprint and decrease operating costs over time.
Optimizing and Reducing Desalination Costs and Environmental Impacts
Seawater desalination offers an effective means to address water scarcity but poses several significant challenges. These include high energy consumption, pollutant discharges, steep production costs, and the complexities of managing extracted salts and minerals.
While desalination is a highly efficient technology, its drawbacks include substantial energy requirements, greenhouse gas emissions, and the risk of overshadowing more sustainable alternatives, such as wastewater recycling and water conservation strategies.
The need to manufacture equipment locally to reduce the production costs of desalination plants was a key topic at a parliamentary session held on June 25 at the National People’s Assembly (APN). The session, titled “Seawater Desalination as a Strategic Option for the State: Achievements and Challenges,” highlighted the capacities of existing desalination plants, which exceed 100,000 cubic meters per day, and those under construction, some of which will reach 300,000 cubic meters per day.
Among the event’s recommendations were the establishment of a facility to produce membranes for reverse osmosis—a vital process for demineralizing and decontaminating water—the integration of renewable energy to power desalination plants, and the development of local manufacturing for essential machinery.
In addition to the challenges of high energy consumption and production costs, desalination poses significant environmental concerns. These include the use of chemicals, the discharge of hot, concentrated brines, and the release of heavy metals into the environment.
During the aforementioned parliamentary session, Hacene Mahmoudi, a professor at the École Nationale Supérieure en Nanosciences et Nanotechnologies (ENSNN), emphasized the potential benefits of valorizing the salts and minerals produced during desalination. He noted that a plant producing 100,000 cubic meters of water per day could generate up to one million tons of sodium chloride annually, representing an estimated revenue of $65 million. In comparison, the annual cost of water production for the same plant is approximately $22 million, highlighting the economic opportunities associated with resource recovery.
In the absence of specific regulations governing brine discharge, its release into the sea alters the chemical composition of seawater and threatens marine ecosystems. This was highlighted in a study led by Professor Belkacem Filali from Saasd Dahleb University of Blida, titled “Environmental Impact of Desalination in Algeria.” These brine discharges exacerbate existing marine pollution, including contaminants like hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbons.
The increasing number of desalination plants in Algeria amplifies these environmental impacts, causing a reduction in dissolved oxygen levels and further harming marine life. To mitigate these effects, the study recommends strategically selecting brine discharge sites to avoid sensitive areas and enhance dispersion through the use of diffusers. Ensuring that discharge temperatures match natural water temperatures is also critical to minimizing ecosystem disturbances.
Reverse osmosis is preferred over thermal processes due to its lower environmental impact, particularly regarding corrosion and temperature-related issues. However, the study emphasizes the importance of treating brine prior to discharge and underscores the need for thoughtful cost considerations and effective management of desalination plants to reduce their ecological footprint.
Innovative Strategies for Enhanced Water Management
Brahim Mouhouche, a member of the National Council for Scientific Research and Technology (CNRST) and professor at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie, offers critical insights into Algeria’s water resource challenges. In a recent presentation, he emphasized the role of desalination initiatives as a key component in diversifying the country’s water supply sources.
His approach underlines the importance of integrating desalination within a broader strategy to ensure sustainable water management, addressing both current needs and future demands.
However, Mouhouche cautioned against viewing desalination as a standalone solution. “This technology, while effective, demands costly infrastructure and careful management of energy resources, which raises concerns about long-term sustainability,” he stated.
He underscored the importance of complementing desalination infrastructure with advanced water management tools. “It is essential to have instruments that can precisely measure the country’s water capacity,” he noted, emphasizing the critical need for accurate, up-to-date data on groundwater levels, dam reserves, and available water flows.
Enhancing the management of water resources also requires the creation of comprehensive geographic databases. Such tools would enable more effective planning, help anticipate shortages, and optimize distribution—particularly in rural areas with high agricultural demands.
According to Mouhouche, effective water management relies on a comprehensive understanding of the country’s water potential. He recommended investing in advanced remote sensing and hydrological modeling technologies to support informed decision-making and enhance resource planning.
Mouhouche also emphasized the need for an integrated approach to water resource management, involving all stakeholders, from local authorities to farmers, industrialists, and researchers. Such an approach must extend beyond desalination to include measures like reusing treated wastewater, upgrading irrigation systems, and promoting drought-tolerant crops.
He highlighted the importance of raising awareness among the public and farmers about the need for more rational water use, noting that sustainable water management ultimately depends on changing behaviors and fostering a culture of conservation. “Building a water-saving culture is essential,” he concluded.
On a related note, Professor Ali Daoudi, a renowned agroeconomist and lecturer-researcher at the École Nationale Supérieure Agronomique, discussed the potential benefits of desalination for agriculture during a conference on climate change at the Université Mentouri of Constantine. He explained, “Desalination could greatly benefit agriculture, especially in the south of Algeria, where climatic conditions are extreme.”
The use of desalination technologies could provide fresh water for irrigation, a crucial resource in these arid regions. When combined with precision irrigation systems and adapted agricultural methods, desalination could play a key role in making agriculture more sustainable and resilient to the challenges posed by climate change, according to the expert.