Tunisia Accelerates Construction of Hydraulic Infrastructures to Address Water Stress
To address its water stress and mobilize its water resources, Tunisia has decided to accelerate the construction of several hydraulic infrastructures. During a restricted ministerial council (CMR) held on February 25, 2025, under the presidency of Prime Minister Kamel Madouri, it was agreed to build the Mellègue, Douimiss, Raghai, and Khalled dams, as well as the Kalaâ Kebira and Said reservoirs, with a total capacity of 318 million m³. The CMR also planned to drill deep wells in the Kef and Nabeul governorates, to valorize treated water through the creation of 127 stations, and to launch desalination projects, including the Sousse station and seven others in the south of the country.
The CMR also discussed measures to improve long-term water resource management, including the development of a "Water Management Plan by 2050" and the promotion of renewable energies. The goal is to integrate hydroelectricity and photovoltaic energy to account for 30% of energy consumption by 2035. Furthermore, an energy management system will be put in place to rationalize energy use, and two plants will be built in Sfax and Tozeur to save 40% of energy consumption at six desalination stations. A digital platform for real-time decision-making will also be created to manage hydraulic resources.
The council also announced the rehabilitation of rural drinking water supply systems at a cost of 2.3 billion dinars, as well as the generalization of smart meters. A large-scale plan to valorize rainwater will also be implemented in collaboration with several ministries.
