Algeria’s supersized 500,000 m3/day desalination plant open for business

Nov. 11, 2014
Africa’s largest seawater reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant has been opened in Magtaa, Algeria to provide 500,000 m3/day of drinking water...

Africa’s largest seawater reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant has been opened in Magtaa, Algeria to provide 500,000 m3/day of drinking water.

Singapore firm Hyflux will operate and maintain the 500,000 m3/day project worth S$632 million (US$494.6 million) to supply drinking waterto Algeria’s second largest city, Oran and neighbouring provinces.

Under a 25-year water purchase agreement, water will be supplied to state owned national public water entity, L’Algerienne Des Eaux (ADE) and oil and gas company, Sonatrach.

The Singapore firm’s proprietary ultrafiltration membranes and RO technology will be used to treat seawater.

It was in April 2008 when Hyflux won the bid for what was called the “world’s largest seawater desalination plant”.

Hyflux subsidiary MenaSpring Utility was awarded the contract by Algeria Energy Company – the government company handling power and water privatisation in Algeria.

The bid was won against stiff competition, including Spain’s Acciona Agua, Befesa, GE Water/Orascom and Biwater/Tarco/Arcofina.

Since then, however, Israeli water company IDE Technologies opened its 624,000 m3/day Sorek desalination project using RO membranes (read WWi story).

The original completion date for the Algerian project was August 2011 but a fire at the site warehouse that year put the date back.

Earlier this year WWi reported how construction on the Magtaa project had been completed (see WWi story).

Together with its first desalination plant in Algeria - Souk Tleta (Tlemcen) 200,000 m3/day – winning the Magtaa plant has meant that Hyflux now has a 30% market share of desalination capacity in Algeria.

Group CEO Olivia Lum said: "(The plant) will be instrumental in meeting Algeria's water needs.”

The ceremony was attended by Abdelmalek Sellal, Algeria’s Prime Minister and Hocine Necib, minister of Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore’s minister for the environment and water resources (read WWi interview), Mohammad Alami Musa, Singapore’s ambassador to Algeria, Hyflux executive chairman and group CEO, Olivia Lum, Hyflux’s partners Sonatrach, L’Algérienne Des Eaux and Algerian Energy Company.

Read/watch more

Algeria’s Magtaa supersized desalination plant: what’s the latest? WWi reports how despite delays, construction on the Magtaa project is now complete…

VIDEO: Floating desalination vessel innovation Hyflux talks through its new desalination ship using UF/RO membranes to produce 30,000 m3/day..

‘Macro factors’ to blame for China’s slowing desalination market – Hyflux Singapore water firm Hyflux has reported a marginal rise in profit in the second quarter of 2013 yet has said the Chinese market is experiencing a slow-down in industrial output…

Industrial UF membrane to be jointly developed by Hyflux/Grundfos partnership Singapore firm Hyflux will be joining forces with Danish pump manufacturing giant Grundfos to develop a standardized ultrafiltration (UF) membrane-based sub-system for the treatment of surface and groundwater…

About the Author

Tom Freyberg

Tom Freyberg is an experienced environmental journalist, having worked across a variety of business-to-business titles. Since joining Pennwell in 2010, he has been influential in developing international partnerships for the water brand and has overseen digital developments, including 360 degree video case studies. He has interviewed high level figures, including NYSE CEO’s and Environmental Ministers. A known figure in the global water industry, Tom has chaired and spoken at conferences around the world, from Helsinki, to London and Singapore. An English graduate from Exeter University, Tom completed his PMA journalism training in London.

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