African Development Bank Approves €111.5 Million Financing to Modernize Grand Tunis Water Supply Network
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a €111.5 million financing package to modernize and improve the technical and energy performance of the Grand Tunis water supply network, a strategic area that serves approximately 2.7 million inhabitants.
Project Objectives
The financing aims to secure the water supply, reduce technical losses in the network, and optimize energy consumption in the distribution system. According to Malinne Blomberg, AfDB Country Manager and Deputy General Manager for North Africa, this project will strengthen the network's performance and improve the quality of service to citizens, while reducing the energy bill of the sector and consolidating the system's resilience to climate variations.
Project Components
The project is part of the national priorities for modernizing the public water supply service. It aims to equip the National Water Exploitation and Distribution Company (SONEDE) with modern infrastructure, digital tools, and technical capabilities to reduce water losses, upgrade facilities, and increase the network's resistance to climate change and demographic pressure.
Key Components of the Operation
The operation includes several essential components:
- Renewal of approximately 150 km of water pipes to reduce physical losses throughout the network
- Modernization of distribution, pumping, and storage facilities through the integration of more efficient and less energy-consuming equipment
- Deployment of a digital supervision and control system to improve real-time network management
- Strengthening of SONEDE's technical skills and modernization of its management systems
Strategic Investment
This strategic investment meets a dual requirement: consolidating the water security of Grand Tunis and reducing the energy footprint of the sector. The expected benefits are significant: reduction of water losses, improvement of service continuity, reduction of operating costs, and better anticipation of the impacts of climate change.
Alignment with National Priorities
The project is fully aligned with national priorities in terms of energy transition, sustainable management of water resources, and modernization of public infrastructure.
