Sfax Desalination Plant is a

sea water Seawater, or salt water, is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% (35 g/L, 35 ppt, 600 mM). This means that every kilogram (roughly one liter by volume) of seawater has approx ...

desalination plant under construction in the city of Sfax in Tunisia. The facility is under development by the Tunisian water utility company, ''National Company for the Exploitation and Distribution of Water'' (French: Société Nationale d’Exploitation et de Distribution des Eaux) (Sonede). A consortium of European and Egyptian companies has been selected to carry out the mechanical, civil and hydrological engineering works on the project. Construction is expected to take 54 months with completion anticipated in the first half of 2026.

Location

The desalination plant would be located on a site measuring , in the community of Gargour, Tunisia, approximately , south of the city of Sfax, in the Sfax Governorate. Sfax is the second-largest city in Tunisia, and is located about by road, south of Tunis, the capital and largest city in that country.

Overview

The main objective of this project is to improve the "quantity and quality of drinking water" available to the inhabitants of Sfax City and Sfax Governorate. Before the implementation of this infrastructure project, the supply of

potable water Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, ag ...

in the vicinity of Sfax City was severely constrained. Residents have expressed their displeasure regarding the supply of drinking water availed to them. The project involves the construction the laying of salt water intake pipes from the Mediterranean Sea, building of the desalination plant, laying of the

brine Brine is a high-concentration solution of salt (NaCl) in water (H2O). In diverse contexts, ''brine'' may refer to the salt solutions ranging from about 3.5% (a typical concentration of seawater, on the lower end of that of solutions used for br ...

discharge pipes back to the sea, a pumping station, a fresh-water storage facility and piping to take the fresh water to where it will enter the Sfax City water system. Other infrastructure developments include the construction of a 150kV high voltage electricity transmission line that will bring the 40 megawatts to the desalination plant. The power line is expected to comprise 40 pylons. A substation will be built at the desalination plant, to mediate the wattage and amperage between the plant and power line.

Construction

A consortium of three companies was awarded the

engineering, procurement and construction Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts (a type of turnkey contract) are a form of contract used to undertake construction works by the private sector on large-scale and complex infrastructure projects. Overview Under an EPC co ...

(EPC) contract, in August 2021. The table below details the members in the consortium. The electrical installations, including the 150kV transmission line and the switchyard (substation) are the responsibility the Tunisian electricity utility company,

Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas Société tunisienne de l'électricité et du gaz (الشركة التونسية للكهرباء و الغاز) or STEG is a Tunisian public company non-administrative. Established in 1962, its mission is the production and distribution of elect ...

(STEG). As part of he EPC contract, the Construction Consortium will operate the plant for a minimum of two years, before handing it over to Sonede.

Funding

The total budget for the project is reported as US$350 million (approx. €300 million or TND:960 million). Of the total an estimated €250 million (approx. $295 million or TND:800 million) was financed as a loan to the government of Tunisia, by the Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The loan is repayable over a 25-year period, with a grace period of 7 years.

References

External links