Arkab.. We will restructure the sea water desalination plant in Al-Maqtaa in Oran – Al-Houwar, Algeria

The Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, announced the development of a reform plan to restructure the sea water desalination plant in Maqtaa (Oran), which would reach the maximum production capacity, i.e. 500,000 cubic meters per day, by the end of 2023, in order to reduce the disruptions to the supply of potable water that the provinces know. Algerian West.

In response to a question by MP Rachid Cherchar (National Building Movement) about the status of the seawater desalination plant in Al-Maqtaa in Marsa Al-Hajjaj, Oran, Arkab explained that Sonatrach and its subsidiary “Algerian Energy” (AEC) adopted a two-stage plan, approved by the Maqtaa Water Desalination Company, from To reach the maximum total capacity, which is 500 thousand cubic meters per day, at the end of 2023.

The first stage is represented in an urgent plan aimed at raising the station’s production to 360,000 m3/day starting from March 2022, while the second stage includes a plan to reach production of 500,000 m3/day in December 2023, which is the maximum capacity of the station, according to Arkab’s explanations, highlighting that The process continues with “firmness and will,” and that the Algerian energy company has put in place “all the technical, financial and human means in order to complete the plan and achieve the goals set in this regard within the specified deadlines.”

Design problems cause the station to crash

Concerning the reasons for the failure of the seawater desalination plant in Maqtaa, Arkab referred to “the design problems that impeded the functioning of the station at its full capacity,” as well as “the failure of the Singaporean company, Hylux, to exploit and maintain the station according to the contract concluded with it.”

On the other hand, the Minister of Energy stated that the state of Oran has also benefited, within the framework of the government’s plan in the medium term, from a project to complete a water desalination plant in the Cape Blanc region “Cape Blanc” with a capacity of 300 thousand cubic meters / day, stressing that the works of this station have progressed. In a large percent”.

This facility is added to the hydroelectric station, which will cover the province of Oran and neighboring states with sufficient and regular supply of potable water by the end of 2024.

In the same context, the minister drew attention to the government’s medium-term plan, which includes the completion of five projects for water desalination plants in each of the wilayas of El Tarf, Bejaia, Boumerdes, Tipaza and Oran, with a capacity of 300,000 m3/day each, with the aim of meeting citizens’ needs for potable water. on a regular basis.

Regarding a question posed by Representative Omar Massoudi about the possibility of assigning the fuel filling center in Biskra to distribute liquefied petroleum gas to the neighboring states, Arkab explained that these states enjoy “sufficient coverage for their needs of this fuel without any difficulties” through the filling centers for this fuel in Batna and Toqrat, stressing That “all necessary measures have been taken by the interests of Naftal to ensure a normal and continuous distribution without interruption.”